Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma began his stint as full-time T20I captain with a thrilling win over New Zealand in the three-match series opener at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday.
The Mumbaikar shined with the bat, scoring 48 runs off 36 balls, with the help of seven boundaries, including two sixes. Rohit was looking well set to cruise through during India’s chase of 165 but failed to finish the game as his Mumbai Indians teammate Trent Boult dismissed him.
It all happened during the 14th over when Boult bowled a slower bouncer, which brought the end of Rohit’s innings. The right-handed batter tried to hit the bumper over the short fine-leg fielder but couldn’t clear Rachin Ravindra, who was positioned perfectly to grab the catch.
Despite Rohit’s wicket, India managed to chase down the target successfully, thanks to Suryakumar Yadav‘s heroics with the willow. Surya hit the quickfire 62 from 40 deliveries featuring nine boundaries.
After the match, Rohit shared his views on his dismissal and revealed that the slower-ball bouncer was a bluff that he had discussed with his MI teammate Boult and the same was executed against him.
“We (Boult and I) played a lot of cricket together, and he knows my weakness, and I know his strength, it’s a good fight between the two,” said Rohit at the post-match presentation.
“When I captain him, I always tell him to bluff, and that’s exactly what he did. He put the mid-wicket back and put the fine leg up, and I knew he was gonna bowl a bouncer, and I was just trying to put it over the fielder, but unfortunately, there wasn’t much pace on the ball,” he added.
Rohit also heaped praises on new players, who performed well in the absence of some senior players.
“As a team, we are happy that those guys got to bat in that situation and finished the game off. Technically was a good game, missing a few players and to come and see what the new players have in terms of ability, and I think the way we pulled it back in the last 3-4 overs was magnificent,” Rohit added further.
