Indian cricket team’s spin bowler, Ravichandran Ashwin, had high praises for captain Rohit Sharma. He said that it’s ‘tough’ to bowl against him in the last four T20I overs if he’s warmed up.
Rohit demonstrated an impressive 121* off 69 balls against Afghanistan in Bengaluru during the final T20I in the three-match series. This stellar performance of the Indian captain took place after their early struggle of being 22/4 at bat. The 36-year-old was feeling the heat, having not scored in the first two T20Is.
Ashwin praised Rohit’s amazing knock in the third Twenty20 International match on his YouTube channel, saying:
“The most notable point of the match was Rohit’s innings was, when the team was floating at 30/4, he buckled down and adapted to the situation and went nuts at the back end of the innings. I have said this before, it’s impossible to bowl to a set Rohit Sharma in the last four overs, whoever the bowler is.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
In T20Is, the seasoned bowler said, Rohit possesses every stroke in the book to overpower bowlers late in the game. He clarified:
“Length balls can be pulled. Towards the body, he can play the pick-up pull. If your short ball is sailing in front of the wicket, a little fuller and wider, you are going to see a loft over covers. If you miss the yorker, confirm six. Leave the Super Over in the third T20I, he hit sixes off Tim Southee in New Zealand and won a match for us casually.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
As the first batter to smash five tons in T20Is, Rohit Sharma made history in Bengaluru with a 121* that featured eleven fours and eight sixes.
“He yet again played for the team” – Ravichandran Ashwin praises Rohit for leading from the front
In the opening two games of the series, Rohit was removed without adding a run, but Ashwin did not take it too seriously. He cited the fact that the Indian captain was run out in the opening game and lost it, but that he began to show some movement in the second one.
“Rohit Sharma yet again proved why he is the boss. He has arrived in the same mode that he played the ODI World Cup. He got two ducks, one of which was a run out, and one showed intent for the team. He yet again played for the team and got a century to his name. Rohit Sharma is there to watch out for.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
The T20I format saw the return of Rohit and Virat Kohli during the series against Afghanistan. They last played for India in Twenty20 Internationals in the Australia 2022 World Cup before to this series.