After Babar Azam elected to field first in the third match of the Super Four stage in the Asia Cup 2023 against India in Colombo, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill took the attack to the Pakistani pacers, reminiscent of Virender Sehwag’s explosive opening style. Their performance invoked memories of Sehwag’s days when he would decimate the opposition’s bowling with an incredible array of strokes.
Shubman Gill aggressively pursued the bowling from the outset, while Rohit Sharma patiently waited for the right moment to unleash his skills. Together, they built a commanding 121-run first-wicket partnership in less than 17 overs, setting India on course for a formidable total. However, Rohit’s innings came to an end at 56 off 49 balls when he chipped an innocuous delivery from leg-spinner Shadab Khan to a fielder at long-off.
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Former India teammate Gautam Gambhir criticized Rohit Sharma, the India captain, for playing an “extremely bad shot” and allowing Pakistan to make a comeback in the game after India’s initial onslaught.
“I feel he will be extremely disappointed. The way Rohit Sharma got out, it was an extremely bad shot. He himself knows that shot deserves to be criticized because Pakistan were down and out at that stage. At one point, it seemed India might score 370-375,” said Gambhir while analyzing the day’s play on Star Sports.
“Rohit Sharma played a bad shot and Shubman Gill got out in the very next over. You don’t want to give even the slightest window to a bowling attack like Pakistan. You gave a window and you played that shot against the bowler you had hit for 30 runs in two overs. If it had been a bowler who had been bowling well, it would have been alright as you were under pressure. If you had just stood there, he would have given you one or two bad balls every over,” added the left-handed former cricketer.
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Rain disrupted the match on September 10, allowing only 24.1 overs of play. However, a reserve day is in place, and the action will resume on September 11 with India at 147/2.
