In the ongoing 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma surprised all and sundry by opting to bowl a few overs. Known more for his explosive batting, the “Hitman” put on his best display of versatility by taking up the ball in the 39th over. In his first over, Sharma conceded just six runs, displaying commendable control.
Indeed, more observant fans might not have been surprised at all by this development; photos of Sharma practising his bowling in the nets ahead of the match suggested as much. Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as head coach of India has already ushered in a new, strategic approach to the team.
Under him, India got off to a perfect start by sweeping the T20I series against Sri Lanka 3-0. Gambhir’s early days in charge have been marked by flexibility and resourcefulness; in particular, deploying batsmen as part-time bowlers provide options during the course of a game.
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This was something that was visible during the T20I series itself, where Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh were handed over the ball to bowl the last two overs in the 3rd T20I. Even in the first ODI, the ball was given to Shubman Gill for an over. Though Gill’s over was expensive, and the momentum shifted, it showed how Gambhir was trying out something different and utilizing every player’s potential.
— hiri_azam (@HiriAzam) August 4, 2024
.@ImRo45 rolling back the years with a few overs today? Count us in for that nostalgia trip 🙌 🤩
Watch the action from #SLvIND LIVE now on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 4 & Sony Sports Ten 5 📺#SonySportsNetwork #SLvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/b7XX3nUfFk
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 4, 2024
Rohit Sharma getting into the nets to practice bowling before the 2nd ODI indicated that he believed he was ready to chip in with the ball if needed. So, that very strategic move came into play during the game, adding an unexpected dimension to India’s bowling attack.
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At the time of filing this report, Sri Lanka’s innings was 232/7 after 49 overs as India applied pressure and tried to keep the hosts’ total within manageable limits. The over by Sharma may not have been the most dramatic turn of events in the match but surely was an interesting twist in an already engaging game portraying the dynamics of the Indian team under Gambhir’s leadership.
