Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
It is always fun when Indian captain Rohit Sharma engages with reporters at conventional press conferences, be it in India or overseas. The Indian skipper made fun of his teammate Ishan Kishan, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Tuesday, in another instance of Rohit being in his zone while speaking to reporters.
The Indian team is currently in the Caribbean, facing the West Indies in the scheduled multi-format series. While they have won the first Test of the two-match series, Rohit Sharma and Co. are gearing up for the second and final Test before starting their preparations for the ODI series. Notably, Ishan made his Test debut in the first game of the series, days before turning 25.
In a match when captain Rohit smashed his 10th red-ball century, wicketkeeper-batter Kishan recorded his first-ever Test run for India. Rohit, who gets along well with Kishan, was questioned about the birthday present he gave to his MI and now India teammate. Kishan played his first Test under Rohit’s leadership, and the Indian captain did not declare the Indian innings until the rookie had scored his first run.
In his amusing press conference prior to the second Test match between India and the West Indies, Rohit asked birthday boy Ishan Kishan to notch up a century in the forthcoming game for the visitors. When the journalist asked the Indian captain about Kishan’s birthday, Rohit gave a very funny reply, as he turned at Ishan Kishan and asked him:
“What birthday gift he wants? Kya chahiye bhai tereko? (What do you want brother?) You have everything. We should ask the team about this. It should be the team’s contribution. Birthday gift tu hum logo ko dey bhai 100 – run karkey (You should give us a birthday gift by scoring 100 runs).”
I am sure Windies will bounce back: Rohit
Hearing Rohit’s hilarious response, not just the reporters, even Ishan burst out of laughter. The match between India and the West Indies will mark their 100th meeting in the longest format. Speaking ahead of the game, the Indian captain confessed that the West Indies will try to script a comeback in the upcoming Test after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the visitors.
“It’s an honour to be taking the Indian team into this game and it doesn’t happen every day. The two teams have so much history, so much of good cricket played. I will expect no different in this Test. I am sure they (Windies) will bounce back and it will be exciting for both teams,” Rohit added.