India captain Rohit Sharma set the internet on fire with an unbeaten 51-run knock off 28 balls as the Men in Blue suffered yet another heartbreak, the team’s second in as many matches in Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma, who dislocated his left thumb during Bangladesh’s innings, came into bat at No.9 for India and led his team to a near famous victory in the second ODI at the Shere-E-Bangla Stadium. But in the end, India had to endure a shocking five-run defeat to lose their second consecutive series in Bangladesh.
First, Bangladesh were found on the ropes at 6/69 and India dominated the proceedings with the help of Washington Sundar’s three wickets.
But when it looked like India were running out of the game, a 148-run stand between Mahmudullah and Mehidi Hasan Miraz brought Bangladesh back into the game. After Mahmudullah perished for 77 in the 47th over, Mehidy Hasan Miraz gave the Bangladesh innings the final push as 54 runs came off the last 23 balls.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz remained unbeaten on 100 off 83 deliveries and was the main hero of Bangladesh’s comeback.
In reply, Rohit Sharma and co found themselves in a deep hole at 4/65 with Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul. Their problems were compounded by the absence of Rohit Sharma at the top of the order due to a thumb injury.
A 107-over partnership between Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel stopped the run but the inquiry rate continued to rise. Minutes later, the Indian team was on the brink of defeat at 213/8. Just when everyone thought the match was over, there was another twist in the tale as the injured Rohit Sharma came into bat.
Despite injury concerns, Rohit Sharma played a brave knock as he started to hit the ball all over the ground to reduce the tie to 20 runs at the end of the 49th over.
With 20 needed to win the game in the final over, Rohit Sharma bowled the second and third deliveries for boundaries, but it was Mustafizur Rahman’s dot ball in the fourth over that made things difficult for him.
With two sixes needed to win India, Rohit Sharma maximized his fifth innings of 50, but then Mustafizur Rahman produced an unplayable yorker off the last ball to claim a surprise victory.
Rohit Sharma’s effort, however, was greatly appreciated by his fans who called him the ‘champion’, while others claimed that he won the hearts of every Indian with his bold batting.
Even the world No. 1 batsman in T20Is Suryakumar Yadav She couldn’t stop herself from sending him a message of thanks as she tweeted “Mass Regards Brother”.
Great respect brother @ImRo45#BANvsIND
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) December 7, 2022
Hitman Rohit Sharma always proud of you. You are a champion @ImRo45pic.twitter.com/LgMsi5SD06
— RATNISH (@LoyalSachinFan) December 7, 2022
Take a bow, Rohit Sharma!!
He made a brave decision to go out with the injured thumb and scored 51* (28), with little chance to win the game, giving it his all and bringing India closer. pic.twitter.com/JVwww7wfPZ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 7, 2022
India lost the match 💔 but the lion 🦁 Rohit Sharma 🔥 won the hearts of all India 🇮🇳 and cricket world. pic.twitter.com/hanureY8by
– Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) December 7, 2022
Rohit Sharma, champion.
– Jones. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 7, 2022
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has given an update on the thumb injury he sustained while fielding in the Bangladesh innings. The 35-year-old came out at No.9 for India and thrashed an unbeaten 28-51 to take the visitors close to victory in the final of the competition.
“Honestly, the thumb is not very big. My finger is slightly dislocated but not broken, so I could come and bat,” Rohit Sharma said after India’s second consecutive series defeat.
“I think when you lose a game, there are positives and negatives… It wasn’t a great effort from the bowlers to allow them to reach 270 for 6 from 70. The middle passes and the backs hurt us – it hurt us in the first game too,” he said.
“We have to focus on what we have to do individually, but we shouldn’t take anything away from Mehidi and Mahmudullah. But we have to learn how to break partnerships and that’s something that will stand you in good stead,” said Rohit Sharma.
In one-day cricket, it’s all about partnerships like those guys did. When you get 50, 70 partnerships, you should make it 100-120 partnerships. Having said that, there are a lot of things that we have to look at and we have to be a little bolder and give more chances,” explained the Nagpur-born cricket star.
“A few injuries are a concern and we have to get to the bottom of that; maybe they play a lot of cricket. This is something we have to sit down with our team at NCA and monitor their workload. It is not possible to have half-form players representing India,” Rohit Sharma signed off.
The third and final ODI of the series between the two teams will be played at Chattogram on Saturday.