“You need to score”: Rohit Sharma & Co given strong message by Indian team management after failing against New Zealand

Bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted that the batsmen's continuous failure to score runs in the first innings is costing the team dearly, while India are in danger of losing their first Test series at home since 2012-13. After being bowled out for a paltry 46 runs in the first innings of the opening Test, India were bowled out for just 156 runs in the first match of the second Test in Pune on Friday as New Zealand took firm control of the match. “I never like clashes between batsmen and bowlers, but in Test match cricket you need to score runs in the first innings,” Morkel told the media during a press conference after the day.

“If we raise our hand, we are not able to do that. We have world-class players in our batting line up. I know that personally, they have their processes and they know about those things. How to go.” he adds.

Morkel hopes that the Indian batsmen will perform better in the second innings.

“Hopefully, we can clean up those mistakes because it's costing us at the moment – not getting runs on the board – but I'm sure there's enough experience, enough knowledge amongst them to rectify that,” he said. Is.”

“I back the team with our strong response in the second innings. I'm excited to see how they come back and play with this situation and circumstances,” he said.

Morkel said India will have to maintain confidence and rely on their knowledge of the conditions to avoid losing the match and series.

“We have to believe. This game is a fun game. Our guys are aggressive players, guys who know these situations very well. Our thing before this game was that we are adept in these situations, we know How to summarize these circumstances.” ” He said.

“Let's be honest, it's going to be a tough task. But what an opportunity it is for someone to really motivate and fight and put on a top performance – that's how I look at it.

He said, “When circumstances are difficult and tough you will see real people stand up and fight and if we show that fight and someone finds momentum in these circumstances, you never know.”

Morkel said that when the hosts reached 16/1 in 11 overs on the first day, they wanted to finish the overs and then regain the momentum on the second day.

“I think they (New Zealand) bowled very well in partnerships. From the outside looking in, it was very difficult for us to rotate the strike, keep the scoreboard going,” he said.

“In situations like this where the ball is moving and asking a lot of questions, it is important to do that.

“Especially today, the pace at which (Mitchell) Santner bowled was perfect for this surface. On the second day, coming here this morning after being down by one wicket, our camp was fully confident that we would be able to bat big. Were going, but unfortunately we couldn't do it. Keep that momentum going,” he said.

Morkel praised New Zealand for coming with good preparation on this tour.

“I must give credit to New Zealand. The way he has adapted to the conditions, the way he has shrugged off things coming his way and just played the game, it has been incredible so far in this series,” he said.

“Definitely in Bangalore and here, playing those sessions, playing those important moments, he has done better than us at the moment.” “And that's one of the reasons why they're on top of the game right now. They are creating pressure with the ball. They are putting our bowlers under pressure by doing good sweeps and reverse sweeps.

“They're a team that plans well, they go on tour and really leave no stone unturned so I'm not surprised by the way they're playing at the moment,” he said.