We have learned from the batting approach of the visiting team: KS Bharat

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Visakhapatnam. After India trailed 1-0 in the five-match Test series against England, wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat said the hosts have learned from the visiting team’s batting approach in the series opener in Hyderabad and will face the ACA from Friday. -Efforts are being made to focus on sweep shots before the second match starts at the VDCA Stadium.

Vice-captain Ollie Pope’s brilliant 196 and debutant spinner Tom Hartley’s 7-62 helped England seal a thrilling 28-run win over India in the series opener at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad last week.

In that match, England relied heavily on sweeps and reverse-sweeps as run-scoring options, which the Indian batsmen have been practicing in their net sessions in Visakhapatnam.

“In our team meetings we talked about things we could have done better and yes, we definitely have some plans (for this Test match). (We are) definitely looking at what they have done.” How we performed in the first match, played some reverse (sweeps), that’s something we have definitely worked on.

“Playing in India, we play a lot of cricket on these tracks. It is not that we do not know how to sweep, reverse sweep or paddle-sweep, but depending on the situation of the team on that particular day, we take our decision as a batsman. It is very clear for us that we bat with freedom.

“We also practiced reverse sweep before the first match,” Bharat said in the pre-match press conference. But while playing in the field, it is the individual plan of the batsmen. If the team demands us to play in a certain way, we are ready for it. But individually we have different plans and we want to perform well as a batting unit in this match.

When asked about any doubts in the dressing room after the defeat to England, Bharat denied any such claims. “After the match, the atmosphere (in the team) is absolutely calm. They asked us not to panic. The instructions are very clear that it is a long Test series and we have played such series before also.”

“As individuals we have to focus on the good things. The things we want to try, the things we want to implement. We just want to play good cricket. That’s the message from the captain and the coach,” he said.

India will play the second Test without the injured duo of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, with Virat Kohli still on leave for personal reasons, meaning either Rajat Patidar or Sarfaraz Khan could be given a chance to debut. Bharat admitted that India lack experience due to the absence of these three, but pointed to a team eager to learn from mistakes in Hyderabad.

“His experience definitely matters, but if you look at youngsters like us, we have played a lot of domestic cricket and we have played a lot of cricket. It is unfortunate for him to miss out, but our bench strength is always up to the challenge on this type of track. Those who are running, I am sure they will definitely perform well and take it forward.”

“They (England) played really good shots (in Hyderabad). The credit for this goes to him because he got a chance to play good shots. We did everything, like planning at the centre. Rohit bhai was talking to us, Jadeja was discussing length, line, speed. But then at the end of the day, if someone batted well, you have to give them credit.

“He (Ollie Pope) really bowled us over in the second innings, but it happens,” the wicketkeeper said. In cricket and any sport you have to learn, accept and move forward with the learnings, which meant a lot to us and we are definitely taking that forward.”

Friday’s match will also be India’s first international match at its home ground in Visakhapatnam. When MS Dhoni scored an unbeaten 148 against Pakistan in an ODI here in 2005, Bharat was a ball-boy at the venue and started training with the Andhra Pradesh Ranji Trophy team at the age of 11.

Bharat was also honored by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) on Thursday, becoming the third India Test-playing cricketer from the state after former chief selector MSK Prasad and veteran batsman Hanuma Vihari.

“Playing in front of your home crowd is definitely special. But I am keeping emotions aside, because I am looking at it as any other Test match that you are playing for your country. There will be a lot of noise when you are playing for your country. good sounds, bad sounds

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