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India captain Rohit Sharma said he was proud of his team for fighting back from their lowest home score of 46 to reach a match in the first Test against New Zealand despite suffering an eight-wicket defeat on Sunday.

Chasing a difficult target of 107 after losing two early wickets, New Zealand recorded their first Test win in India since 1988.

India were bowled out with their third-lowest Test score in 31.2 overs on the second day as Rohit opted to bat under cloudy skies.

But in the second innings, Sarfaraz Khan scored 150 and Rishabh Pant 99 as India scored 462.

“In the second inning with the bat, you came out and played like that. It felt like we were ahead at some point in the game,” Rohit said.

New Zealand scored 402 in their first innings and took a 356-run lead.

“We didn’t feel like we were 350 points behind and I’m really proud of that,” Rohit said.

“All in all, apart from the first three hours, I thought we played some very good Test cricket.”

“Whatever the situation of the game, if you don’t believe in it, you won’t achieve it.”

“So that’s the mindset of this team. And I can say it again and again that this team will not give in easily.”

Sarfaraz reached his maiden century in his fourth Test appearance. The left-handed Pant missed his century but took the attack to the opposition.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham expected a backlash from India after the first innings debacle.

“From our perspective, we knew India would come back,” Latham said. “They definitely kept challenging us, they kept asking good questions.

“To get a lead from the position they were in was obviously an outstanding achievement.”

It was India’s second home Test defeat this year. England won the opener of a five-match series in January, but India won the next four games.

“We have lost games like this before and then made a comeback,” Rohit said.

“So we will try not to think too much about this friendly but more about how we have to play in the next two games. What we have to do and how we have to beat the team.”

The second Test begins on Thursday in Pune. The third will take place on November 1st in Mumbai.

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