Virat Kohli took responsibility of batting at No.3 in Bengaluru Test: Rohit Sharma

IND vs NZ: Rohit Sharma said that Virat Kohli took the responsibility of batting at No.3 in the Bengaluru Test. Kohli scored a nine-ball duck before William O'Rourke accounted for his wicket.

In Short

• Virat Kohli got out for a duck against New Zealand
• Kohli returned to batting at No.3 after 8 years
• William O’Rourke got the prize wicket of Kohli

Rohit Sharma said that Virat Kohli took the responsibility of batting at No.3 in India’s opening Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Kohli returned to batting at three after eight years, but got out for a nine-ball duck after William O’Rourke accounted for his wicket.

Kohli doesn’t have the best of numbers at No.3, scoring only 97 runs from six matches at an average of 16.16 with a top score of 41 against Australia back in 2013 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

IND vs NZ, 1st Test, Day 1 Updates

Rohit said that India did not want to tinker with the batting positions of KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, and hence, Kohli took the onus upon himself to promote himself up the order.

“Yes, he is a local boy. So he has to bat at 3? (laughs). After a long time, KL Rahul has found a spot at No. 6. We want to make him bat there. The experienced players are the ones who have to take up more responsibility. This time, it was Virat. He was the one who was ready to do that,” Rohit said in the press conference after the day’s play.

"We asked him whether he could bat at No. 3. Sarfaraz, we also wanted to give him the position that he usually bats -- 4, 5 and 6. We didn't want to change Rishabh and KL. Hence, Sarfaraz went at No. 4 and Virat batted at No. 3. It's a good sign. Players coming up and taking responsibility and owning up the challenge. It's a good sign,” Rohit said.

‘Couldn't read the pitch well’

India had a torrid time on Day 1 of the Bengaluru Test. After opting to bat first, the home team was bowled out for 46 in 31.2 overs. Barring Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) and Rishabh Pant (20), none of the Indian batters went into double digits.

After the day’s play, Rohit admitted that India made a mistake in reading the pitch. He said India thought that the pitch would ease out after helping the fast bowlers in the first session, but it did not turn out that way.

"We thought it wouldn't help seamers much after the first session or so. There wasn't much grass either. We thought it would be flat. It was a misjudgement and I couldn't read the pitch well,” Rohit added.

At Stumps on Day 2, New Zealand were trailing by 134 runs with seven wickets left in their first innings.