Cricket
T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma’s captaincy against Pakistan was all class, says Uthappa
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Rohit Sharma was all class with his role as captain and he trusted every bowler to do their job in India’s win over Pakistan in a low-scoring T20 World Cup 2024 match on Sunday in New York, according to former India batter Robin Uthappa. India successfully defended 119, the lowest total they have managed to defend, to hand Pakistan a stinging blow. Bowlers saved the day for India after their star batters failed to get going on a ticky pitch at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York.
Robin Uthappa lauded Rohit Sharma for not being desperate and bringing Jasprit Bumrah into the attack as early as the first over, saying that he trusted Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj to do their role with the new ball. Bumrah was brought into the attack in the third over and he nearly got the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan. Bumrah removed Babar Azam in the fifth over to hurt Pakistan’s chase.
“What I loved about the second innings was Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. It was class, responsive captaincy. Anyone else in Rohit Sharma’s place, defending 119 would have brought on the trump card in the first over. But Rohit said ‘no’. He trusted everyone, he kept faith in each one of them. He said ‘you come and execute your role’. In doing that, he actually gave them confidence not just for this match, but for the rest of the tournament,” Robin Uthappa said during his YouTube show with R Ashwin.
“He was saying ‘I trust your ability to bowl where you have to bowl’. Brought Arshdeep in the first over, gave Siraj his second over and then he went to Bumrah for the two most important overs in the powerplay. What did Bumrah do? He nearly got a wicket in his first over. And when he came back to bowl the fifth over, he picked the wicket of Babar Azam. He then gave Siraj another over in the 7th over,” he added.
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UTHAPPA HEAPS PRAISE ON HARDIK PANDYA
Rohit Sharma held Axar Patel until the 10th over, but when he brought the left-arm spinner on, the Delhi Capitals star struck by removing Usman Khan. Axar broke a 31-run stand that was starting to look threatening.
Hardik Pandya recovered from a poor start with the ball and picked up two crucial wickets in the middle-overs, including that of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim. Bumrah was brought back for a lone over in his second spell and he broke Pakistan’s momentum, getting Mohammad Rizwan’s wicket.
Bumrah delivered the 19th over and gave away just three runs, closing out the match for India as Pakistan fell short of India’s total by 6 runs.
“He led the team with class. It was just out of the top draw, Rohit Sharma. Brilliant, brilliant captaincy! All the bowlers responded well. Even Hardik Pandya. In the first two overs, I think he gave away 18 runs. Then he got two wickets and gave away just 7 or 6 runs. 4 overs, 24, 2 wickets. Typically vice-captain role. Top cricket,” Uthappa said.
India, who are now favourites to top the Group A table, will take on the USA next in New York on Wednesday, June 12.
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