“We need to get more runs to put more pressure. There is plenty of time left in this Test and it is too early to think about the declaration,” Rahul Dravid said at end of the third day's play in the second Test between India and New Zealand here on Sunday.
“We are slightly ahead but need to really increase the lead as much as possible. Hopefully, Bhajji (Harbhajan) will hit a century again and mind you Sree is really batting well,” he said.
“Anything can happen on the last two days of a Test and especially here. We have to really bowl well and take our catches to put the Kiwis under pressure in the second innings,” Dravid said.
“Definitely batting in the last innings should be a very difficult proposition even though the pitch is still really a good one now,” he added.
“This is a beautiful ground with a lovely outfield. You can see how exceptional the New Zealand fielding had been today,” he said.
“Honestly, Bhajji has been batting brilliantly this season and he seems to be developing into a very good all-rounder. Like Sir Sobers,” he said with a big smile.
For his part New Zealand middle-order batsman Ross Taylor felt that the final session was disappointing. “But, full credit should be given to Harbhajan. He batted brilliantly, started attacking from the word go,” he remarked.
“It is not that we did not have any game-plan for him but sometimes you just cannot have any control over a situation,” he pointed out.
“Well, we are obviously looking to restrict the Indian lead to below 150 so as to have a decent chance to be back in the game,” Taylor said.
He felt that his captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori was really good, despite long spells. “He has been doing that for a long time being the only frontline spinner.”
