The Indian batsmen seemed more at ease on the pitch than their English counterparts on Day One, especially in the last session. But the southpaw reckoned that it was the quality of the spinners, and not the state of the pitch, that was the difference between the two sides.
India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel admitted that India could have restricted England to a score of under 400, but insisted in the same breath that the hosts were in command after the end of the second day.
"We're in a very good position at the moment. I thought they were lucky in getting 400 runs, it can happen with tailenders. I thought we could've restricted them to 350-375. But at the end of the day at 150/1, we're very well placed," Patel said here on Friday.
The Indian batsmen seemed more at ease on the pitch than their English counterparts on Day One, especially in the last session. But the southpaw reckoned that it was the quality of the spinners, and not the state of the pitch, that was the difference between the two sides.
"More than the surface, quality of the bowlers we have is far better. Our bowlers definitely give more revolutions on the ball than their spinners are doing. We also use our pace very well, we deceived a lot of players in the air than just rely on the help from the wicket. So, there's a definite difference in the quality for sure," Patel said.
"We've tried to spin the ball more than what they've tried to do. That's what I felt even in the last game (in Mohali). The way our bowlers bowled in Mohali and the way they bowled to us, they actually got exposed because there was no help in the pitch. Here, on a red soil wicket, it is difficult to contain the scoring rate. But we did that very well in the second session yesterday, and that's why we got those wickets in the third session," the diminutive southpaw added.
The hosts had a mixed day with the DRS on Friday, overturning one caught decision against Ben Stokes and being at the receiving end of Umpire's Call during another one against Jos Buttler. The wicketkeeper plays a huge role in helping the captain decide whether to go for a review or not, and Patel said the team has to trust the 'keeper.
"We have to back ourselves and the team has to trust the wicketkeeper. The wicketkeepers have the best view of the stumps as to where it has hit or where it will go after pitching. So, I just try and give my view on whether it will be hitting the stump or whether it will be Umpire's Call or whether it will be right in the middle.
"You just have to take a decision in 15 seconds, and it could go anywhere. Umpire's Call, in some decisions today (Friday), could've gone in our favour. But that's how it is, some go and some don't. We just have to be honest to ourselves," he added.
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