On Thursday, January 11, in Mohali, India inaugural Twenty20 International match against Afghanistan marked Rohit Sharma’s comeback to the game after a 14-month break.
Even though Rohit’s encounter with the willow didn’t end up being particularly noteworthy, the hosts won the game easily by six wickets.
Rohit came out to begin with Shubman Gill following the India bowlers’ disciplined display of limiting Afghanistan to 158/5 on a respectable batting ground. The “Hitman” was supposed to express himself for the fans, but he was only at the crease for a few deliveries. Off the second ball of the inning, the Mumbai hitter came down the pitch to blast a ball from Fazalhaq Farooqi to his opposite number, Ibrahim Zadran, at mid-off. As Rohit raced off for the single, Gill was seen to be observing the ball. Ultimately, with the veteran having to walk back to the pavilion after being run out for a duck, both batters stood at the non-striker’s end.
After the run-out, when he was seen shoving a mouthful at Gill, Rohit was quite disappointed. The 36-year-old was questioned over the incident during the post-match press conference. Rohit remarked that incidents like this happen since it’s frustrating to not be able to contribute to the team with the bat. The Punjab batsman made a cameo of 23 off 12 balls, which he praised and indicated that he wanted to bat for a long time.
“On the run-out, these things do occur. You get upset because you want to be out there and help the team score runs. You won’t get your wish in everything. More importantly, we prevailed in the game. Sadly, Gill was removed from the game after a very strong short inning, which disappointed me,” Rohit remarked.
There are many benefits from the game Rohit Sharma
Rohit talked about the first encounter’s many benefits. He commented about the choice to bowl Washington Sundar in the penultimate over of the opening innings and showered Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, and Rinku Singh with accolades.
There are many good things. Shivam Dube, Jitesh batted well, as did Tilak, and Rinku too is in fine form. As you witnessed today when Washi bowled the 19th over, we want to keep trying new things and attempt to bowl our bowlers in various game scenarios. We aim to push ourselves in the places where we feel a little uneasy, and the bowlers aren’t accustomed to it. We’d want to give it a shot. We’ll try our best to do whatever we can while keeping all of those things in mind, Rohit continued.
Dube shone as an Indian batsman, going undefeated at 60 off just 40 balls while smashing five fours and two massive sixes in his performance. The home team triumphed by six wickets with fifteen balls remaining, thanks to some excellent blows from Jitesh (31 off 20 balls) and Rinku (16* off 9 balls). With the ball, Dube contributed one wicket and Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar both took two wickets. India seized a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second game slated to be played on Sunday, January 14, in Indore.
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