For me, aggression is all about your actions: Rohit Sharma

Indian captain Rohit Sharma said the two-match Test series against Bangladesh was “exceptional” but it “may go unnoticed” because of India’s invincible record at home. The Men in Blue whitewashed Bangladesh 2-0 but both those wins weren’t as straightforward as it looks, especially the one in Kanpur. 

It looked like the second Test would end in a dull draw but after dismissing Bangladesh for 233 in the first innings, Indian batters came out all guns blazing and slammed 285/9 (decl) in just 34.4 overs. Bangladesh were then bowled out for 146 in their second innings and India got the required 95 runs in only 17.2 overs.

"The bowlers came to the party first. They got the wickets that we needed, and then when we came inside, we had to take a little bit of risk to get a result. I know the result could have gone either way, but I was okay with it. So was the coach (Gautam Gambhir) and the other players as well because you have to be brave enough to take those decisions and go and play that way,” Rohit, who himself smashed 23 off 11 in the first innings, told BCCI.TV.

“When things fall in place, everything looks good. And that is where it can change quickly, when things doesn't fall in place. Everybody would've started criticising the decision that we took and all of that but what matters is what we think inside this changing room. And that is what mattered. And that is what we went with in this game.

“It was a clear plan that we want the result, how we can get the result. Everybody started finding answers for that. I think it was an exceptional series. It may go unnoticed."

Rohit also praised his team members for being aggressive and playing result-oriented cricket. "For me, aggression is all about your actions. It's not about my reactions; the kind of batting we do, the kind of field positioning we do, the kind of bowling we do: that to me is aggression.

"Look, without the help of the other ten players, and, obviously people who are sitting in the dressing room as well, this wouldn't have been possible when we had lost two days, two-and-a-half days actually, it's very easy for everyone to just drift away from the goal that we had of winning this Test match. When we came here on the fourth day of the morning, first things first, they were batting and we needed to get them out. We needed seven wickets quickly, so I thought everything started there."

Talking about his captaincy style, Rohit added: "When you are playing at such a high level, you need to have a bit of everything. You need to be calm, to think wisely. There are a lot of decisions that you have to take on the field. Not every decision will go your way, but you have to back it and use your experience, use your knowledge. So that is what I do. 

“I've been there enough to trust my judgment that I do take on the field, the decisions that I take on the field, I trust on it. And then, then I go by it. There are players around me who are open to giving suggestions, but at the end of the day, I trust my mind and I trust my judgment, and that's all that matters."

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