Former India player Parthiv Patel noted that Rohit Sharma was bound to struggle initially in seamer-friendly conditions during the second ODI against Australia. However, he praised the former India skipper for respecting the conditions at the start of his innings.
Rohit scored 73 runs off 97 deliveries as India set Australia a target of 265 runs in the second ODI held in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23. The hosts achieved the target with two wickets and 22 deliveries to spare, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Parthiv was asked about Rohit’s approach after his initial struggles. He said, “It was on expected lines, the way the pitch was playing. Considering the moisture on the pitch, the ball was going to move for sure. However, if we look at it from Rohit Sharma’s perspective, the one good thing he did was that he respected the conditions.”
The former India wicketkeeper-batter lauded Rohit for his willingness to spend time at the crease. “We have been seeing Rohit batting at a strike rate of 132 to 134 in the first powerplay, but here he knew that the ball was moving a little, so he had to give a little respect, and that it would get easier as he kept playing. We saw that as well. That’s a sign of a great player — how you spend a little time,” Parthiv observed.
Parthiv further added that the vintage Rohit was seen as his innings progressed. “No matter how scratchy you look, you need to stay at the wicket. You will get a chance to play big shots only if you stay at the wicket, and that’s what happened with Rohit. He struggled, but as soon as he got short balls, he made the most of them. With the two hook shots we saw, it seems like the old Rohit Sharma has returned,” he elaborated.
Rohit Sharma scored only 14 runs off the first 40 deliveries he faced but then smashed 59 runs off his next 57 balls to finish as the top scorer in the Indian innings.
On Rohit’s dismissal, Parthiv said, “He mistimed it a little, so the ball went straight to fine leg’s hands.” He praised Rohit for making the most of the shorter square boundaries before he got out to a mistimed pull shot towards a slightly longer boundary off Mitchell Starc’s bowling.
“He waits for short balls, especially here at the Adelaide Oval, as the square boundaries are short. The boundary is slightly bigger towards fine leg. He mistimed it a little, so the ball went straight to fine leg’s hands,” Parthiv explained.
To conclude, the cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted the significance of Rohit’s innings. “Many times you don’t get confidence even when you play a mighty knock. However, when you play an innings like this, where you know it’s not your best innings, but still you spend time in the middle, we all say match practice is needed the most. From Rohit’s perspective, today’s innings was extremely important,” Parthiv observed.
Rohit Sharma struck seven fours and two sixes during his 73-run knock. He added 118 runs for the third wicket with Shreyas Iyer (61 off 77) after India had been reduced to 17/2 in the seventh over.
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