Despite a decent show in the middle order with multiple batters getting good starts, India failed to build a sizable lead with a collapse from 376/6 to 387 in the final session of the day and Rahul expressed his frustration with the missed chance.
“Even till just before tea time I think we were in a really good position, obviously me and Rishabh got that long partnership but we both got out, he got out just before lunch and I got out right after lunch, that wasn’t ideal.
“So you had two set batters in the top five who’d gotten off to a start, so ideally you want one of them or both of the batters to go on and get a big score and that’s how you sort of get ahead in the test match, so yes that is disappointing.
“A lot of players got starts and we couldn’t convert it and get bigger scores, that would have put us ahead of the test match, but as it stands I think it’s quite even.”
Rahul also reflected on Pant, with whom he shared a 141-run stand, who batted despite an injury and went on to score a fighting 74.
“He was in a lot of pain gripping the bat and obviously when the ball hits your bat there’s a lot of friction and he got hit on the gloves as well a couple of times which was not ideal so he was in a lot of pain and he kept telling me that he was missing out on a lot of balls that he felt should have gone for boundaries.”
