IND vs NZ: KS Bharat opens up on outstanding day behind wickets, says he just had 12 minutes to prepare himself
India’s second-choice wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has revealed that he had just 12 minutes to prepare himself for wicketkeeping on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand. Bharat had to substitute for Wriddhiman Saha, who could not take the field due to neck stiffness.
Bharat, who was the backup wicketkeeper, said he was doing his morning routine before the support staff asked him to get ready. “I was doing my morning routine and then the support staff told me to get ready. I only had 12 minutes to get set for the game,” KS Bharat said in a video posted on BCCI TV.
The wicketkeeper-batter had a decent day behind the stumps on a tricky surface and took two good catches and also did a brilliant stumping of Tom Latham. The highlight of Bharat’s show was the catch of Will Young of the bowling of Ashwin. The ball had kept low but Bharat managed to make the quick adjustment and gave India a vital breakthrough.
“I knew the time I walked in that the ball is keeping low, so the best chance is to be behind the ball and keep making adjustments.”
India managed to dismiss New Zealand for 296 on Day three. The home team got a handy lead of 49 runs. However, New Zealand have bounced back and have restricted India to 84-5 at the time of writing. The match is at a critical juncture as India are just 133 runs ahead of New Zealand.