‘No concern over Kohli’s poor run’

The game is very much in the balance. It will be a test for both teams, and will need to adapt well. There has been variable bounce SANJAY BANGAR, on the 2nd Test

India batting coach Sanjay Bangar praised the team for better execution after the hosts moved towards taking control in the second Test against Australia at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday.

India, who had not managed to touch 200 in the first three innings in the series --- dismissed for 105, 107 and 189 --- were 213 for four after restricting Australia’s first innings lead to 87 runs by dismissing them for 276 to enjoy their first good day in the series.

Australia lead 1-0 after winning the first Test in Pune by 333 runs within three days.

“The game is very much in the balance,” said Bangar. “It will be a test for both teams, and will need to adapt well. There has been variable bounce on the pitch.”

Bangar said an introspection session among the batsmen was paying dividends in the second innings, with Cheteshwar Pujara (79 no) and Ajinkya Rahane (40 no) raising an unbroken 93-run partnership, and denying Australia a wicket in the entire evening session. RETROSPECTION TIME “We got together as a group and looked into the past and saw what we did right when we negotiated spin. It was a good chat and we came up with solutions which reinforced things they have been doing.

“Today, the batsmen applied themselves, used their feet, got to the pitch of the ball as much as they could and played well off the back foot.” He said there was no concern over skipper Virat Kohli, who failed for the fourth time in the series after being dismissed for 15.