`Excited’ opener lulled by full toss

The 23-year-old youngster, however, neatly covered his unhappiness over not getting “those four runs” when he said: “I may have been unlucky to miss the hundred. But all the same I am happy that my score has helped the team to reach a position of strength. As long as you perform for the country, I am satisfied,” he said philosophically.

Going through that fatal shot in his mind once again, Ramesh said that he was “surprised” by the full toss. “I thought I would work the ballbetween mid-on and mid-wicket.”

When he went in this morning to resume his innings, he was aware of the deteriorating condition of the pitch. “It was getting worse. I decided to wait for the loose balls. That is the best way to tackle the Pakistani bowlers, especially Saqlain. And there weren’t many from him. They (Pakistan) have one of the best bowling combination,” he said, having come out triumphant against them in this Test.

Which one of his strokes did Ramesh relish the most today?“Not the one to which I got out,” he shot back, then paused for a few seconds before adding: “I like all the shots which reach the fence. Well … the four which fetched me my 50.”

The two knocks at the Kotla have surely given the opener new confidence. “I am sure there will be many more big knocks.”