Battling his jangling nerves, Rohit Sharma wasn’t willing to reveal anything. Coming into the final game of the three-match T20I series in Bangalore on Thursday, the Team India captain had still been searching for his first runs.
The circumstances weren’t inspirational as India were reduced to 22/4 inside the Powerplay overs. But class players are equipped to handle such circumstances.
Rohit showed why the team management thinks his presence will be essential in the T20 World Cup in June. The selectors had no choice since they needed an able captain to lead the team in the absence of the injured Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav.
With the cool Rinku Singh for company, Rohit displayed a touch of temperament needed in such circumstances and the fearless approach that has made T20 cricket so exciting and entertaining. Eager to open his account, Rohit even got engaged in a banter with umpire Virender Sharma once a boundary was signalled as leg byes in the opening over.
But once the opening bowlers Fareed Ahmad and Azmatullah Omarzai were through with their opening spells, Rohit shifted into top gear against the second line of the Afghan attack.
His unbeaten 121 not out off 69 balls not only showed why the team needs him as a batter, but he also left an indelible impression on his leadership skills by picking Ravi Bishnoi as the bowler in the second Super Over.
“Rohit has just shown what a class player he can be,” head coach Rahul Dravid heaped praise on the captain.
Having gone through an extended lull in the shortest format at the international level and the IPL, Rohit was hellbent on proving his credentials following his exploits in the ODI World Cup. Having made his intentions clear
of giving a shot at another World Cup, Rohit has found fresh motivation in his effort
to move on from the gut-wrenching final defeat on November 19.
He has laid down the roles for each individual before the showpiece event in June. “We are very clear with what we want to do and what we want to achieve as well,” Rohit said during the series.
It was evident in the way Virat Kohli batted in the second T20I. Usually not keen to burst out of his comfort zone, Kohli showed the intent and took the attack to the spinners in the Powerplay overs.
His 29 off 16 balls was an effort to prove that he is in sync with the demands of T20 cricket and can fit alongside this young crop of players. The safety-first batting, which proved to be their nemesis in the last two T20 World Cups, had been dumped for a more aggressive and bold approach.
There was no question about their class but Rohit and Kohli even at their destructive best never rely on slogging in T20 cricket. It is more about the timing which makes it even more pleasing to the eye.
But it was evident that the duo were prepared to shed such inhibitions to suit the team’s needs. If they can maintain their high-intensity batting in the IPL, be assured of another enterprising show in India’s effort to reclaim the World Cup.
