If you sledge one of our guys, you are sledging whole team: KL Rahul
If
any rival player tries to sledge one of ours, the remaining 10 would only come
hard at the opposition and that's exactly what had happened with England during
their 151-run defeat in the second Test, said India opener KL Rahul.
The
on-field altercations started after Mark Wood dished out short-pitched stuff
targeting Jasprit Bumrah's head, resulting in an argument with England skipper
Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson. Even rookie Ollie Robinson was having a go at the
Indian batters.
However,
the tables turned when England were bowled out for paltry 120 in their second
innings with India captain Virat Kohli leading the battle of sledges.
"It
showed how badly both teams wanted to win. That's how Test cricket is played.
We as a team are never shy to say a word or too," player-of-the-match
Rahul, who scored 129 in the first innings, said after the match.
"Someone
comes after our player and rest of the 10 guys get pumped as well. That's the
kind of atmosphere and team bonding that we have. If you go after one of our
guys that means you are going after whole team," Rahul said.
He,
in fact, made it clear that all the four fast bowlers were ready to give
England a test of their own medicine.
"Bowlers
were really keen to have a go and have a crack out there in the middle and give
it their all in 60 overs. This is what people come to watch and it only speaks
about how badly each team wants to win."
He lauded Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami's record 89-run ninth-wicket stand,
which set up the game nicely for the bowlers to do the job inside 60 overs.
"Partnership
between Bumrah and Shami was so so good and after they put up a fight like
that, bowlers were waiting to have a crack at them. We knew after lunch the
declaration is going to come.
"We
knew each of them would have to bowl 10 or 12 overs. The pitch was behaving a
bit up and down and opportunity like this to win a Test match always doesn't
come. We were all very keen and excited and to go out there and put out a
performance like that was very special," said Rahul, who has till now
scored 244 runs in the series.
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