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Xtra Time Web Desk: India captain Rohit Sharma has called for calm following the team's shock defeat to New Zealand in the Bengaluru Test on October 20. Rohit emphasized that "three hours" of poor play in the first innings should not overshadow the rest of the long Test season. India, playing at home, were bowled out for a mere 46 in the first innings, marking their lowest total on Indian soil. Despite a strong recovery with 462 runs in the second innings, they couldn't take control of the game, allowing New Zealand to chase down 107 runs on the final day.

This defeat was India's first at home to New Zealand since 1988, and it marked the second time in 2024 that India has lost the opening Test of a home series. The last time was in January against England in Hyderabad, but India had managed to turn things around in that series.

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Rohit, while addressing the press, praised the team's fightback and second-innings batting performance, urging everyone to focus on the positives. He dismissed any notion of panic and stressed that the team's mindset remains strong.

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“There’s no need to panic," Rohit said. "We’ve had setbacks before and bounced back. Those three hours in the first innings don’t define who we are as a team. We know what went wrong, and we’re focused on making things right in the second Test in Pune."

India will face New Zealand again on October 24 in Pune, aiming for a comeback in the series.