[Watch] "Yaha koi talwar nahi chalegi" - Harsha Bhogle tells Rohit Sharma at post-match presentation ceremony of IND vs NZ 2024 1st Test
Commentator Harsha Bhogle assured Indian captain Rohit Sharma that there would be no 'swordplay' before discussing the team's loss to New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru at the post-match presentation ceremony on Sunday, October 20. After India got all out for 46 in their first innings of the Test, Rohit made the cheeky comment 'chalao talwar' before the start of the press conference.
India went down to New Zealand by eight wickets in the first Test at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. They decided to bat first after winning the toss, but were bundled out for under 50 as Kiwi pacers made merry in helpful conditions. Despite a brave fightback in the second innings, New Zealand managed to pull off a comprehensive win, their first Test win in India since 1988.
After inviting Rohit for a chat at the post-match presentation ceremony in Bengaluru on Sunday, the first thing that Bhogle told the Indian captain was:
"Yaha koi talwar nahi chalegi (The swords won't be out here)."
Watch video (from 1:25 onwards)
After India were bundled out for 46 in their first innings, the Kiwis responded with 402 courtesy of Rachin Ravindra's 134 and Devon Conway's 91. In their second innings, India posted 462 as Sarfaraz Khan (150) notched up his maiden Test ton, while Rishabh Pant contributed a defiant 99. India, however, lost seven wickets for 54 runs to set an easy target of 107 for the visitors.
"He understood what our spinners were trying to do" - Rohit Sharma praises Rachin Ravindra
While New Zealand's pacers had an impressive outing in Bengaluru, it was Ravindra who walked away with the Player of the Match award for his scores of 134 and 39*. Speaking after the game, Rohit conceded that the left-hander played the Indian spinners really well. He said (as quoted by Rediff):
“Some of the shots Rachin played were really, really good. He played well against spinners. He understood what our spinners were trying to do and he didn't back off from playing his natural game. Rachin and (Devon) Conway put our spinners under pressure playing different shots."
Referring to Ollie Pope's counter-attacking hundred in Hyderabad earlier this year, the 37-year-old admitted that overseas batters are coming up with different ways to attack India's bowlers, but asserted that the hosts know what to do in such a situation.
The second Test of the India vs New Zealand series will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune from October 24 to 28.