At no point could batsmen relax at Eden's wicket: Rohit

Kolkata, Oct 2 (IANS) Indian middle order batsman Rohit Sharma on Sunday said the uneven bounce of the Eden Gardens wicket in the second cricket Test match against New Zealand does not offer any leeway for batsmen to relax and one needed to give his 100 per cent in playing every delivery.

"You have seen over the last two days, it is not a typical Kolkata wicket, as it used to be before. I think they have re-laid the surface and you may have seen... every now and then there was uneven bounce.

"So, at no point the batsmen could relax and take things for granted. Every ball that you are playing, you have to ensure you are giving 100 per cent in playing the ball," Rohit said after the third day's play.

Rohit came up with a resolute 82 in the second innings and stitched a 103-run partnership for the seventh wicket with wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha to put India in the driving seat at 227/8 -- a lead of 339 runs over New Zealand.

Referring to the stand with Saha, the flamboyant Rohit said they decided to play every ball on its merit.

"When I and Saha were batting, we decided play each ball on its merit, not to think too far ahead, not to think what was coming next, focus on the present for every ball that was bowled to us," he said.

Asked whether the conditions changed later in the day, or he made it look easy, Rohit said the conditions were never easy.

"The conditions were not easy. As a bowler if you put the ball in the right areas (you can). You may see bounce and an odd ball keeping low, like you saw what happened to Virat (Kohli). You have to be at it all the time. You can't relax.

"There is something in the surface throughout the day, not just in the morning or in the evening. you can't go too forward nor sit back" he said.

Recalling Trent Boult's delivery that rose suddenly and injured Shikhar Dhawan's left thumb, Rohit said: "You have to make sure you are balanced and play as late as possible."

"It was something which I looking to do. Even in the nets, I batted as late as possible," he said.

Rohit said every batsman would have certain plans to play on tracks like the one at Eden.

"Some may not be comfortable playing on the front and some may not be comfortable playing on the back foot.

"It's about getting adjusted to that particular condition. We saw after lunch, or maybe after tea, it was not doing that much," Rohit said

--IANS

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