VISAKHAPATNAM: The road leading to the ACA-VDCA Stadium is dotted with flexis welcoming local lad KS Bharat, who will be playing his first Test match at home.
"Playing in front of your home crowd is definitely special but emotions aside, I am looking at it as any other Test you are playing for your country. There will be a lot of noise if you are playing for your country. The thing is you will have to be in the present moment. It is a proud moment playing in front of your home crowd, but the bigger picture is there is a Test match and our whole focus is on that," he said.
The wicketkeeper-bat has played six Tests for India and fronted up to the media on Thursday. The 30-year-old with a 308 against Goa as his highest first-class score said India were prepared to face the England challenge.
"We play a lot on these tracks. It's not that we don't know how to sweep, reverse sweep or paddle," Bharat said. "It is clear to us to bat with freedom. We also practised the reverse (sweep) before the first game. If the team demands us to play in a certain way, then we are up for it. Individually, we have separate plans and are looking to do well as batters," he added.
Bharat had the best seat in the stadium when Ollie Pope's 196 set up England's victory in the Hyderabad Test. "Ollie Pope really played good shots. In our team meetings we spoke about the things we could have done better. Yes, we have a few plans, and we are looking to get some good bowling and batting in this Test," he said.
Bharat said the experience of Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul will be missed but expressed confidence in the bench. "It's unfortunate for them to miss, but then our bench strength is always ready for a challenge on these kinds of tracks. And the guys walking in, I am sure will do well and take it forward."
