How Virat, Rohit chilled in Colombo

COLOMBO:The Indian cricket team may be on the path to uber-fitness, but it doesn’t hurt to fall back on smart ways to conserve energy.

Skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did exactly that while smashing centuries and piling on a big partnership in the crushing victory over Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI on Thursday.

Kohli struck 131, his 29th ODI century, and Rohit 104, his second in consecutive games and 13th overall and the pair shared in a 219-run second wicket partnership. Once the Indian skipper won the toss, he had no hesitation in choosing to bat first as it was very hot and humid in Colombo on Thursday afternoon.

TWO IS TROUBLE

Kohli revealed the ploy to conserve energy, in a post-match interview by Rohit for bcci.tv. Kohli said: “As we spoke out there in the middle, it was very difficult. It was hot and humid. So, we decided not to run any more twos after the 16th over.

“Actually, it was very helpful not focusing on too many things. We were just watching the ball, and that is the only thing we could do with the energy we had.

“That was the best thing; we were watching every ball we were playing, not even looking at the scoreboard. And it is always a pleasure batting with you. We have had big partnerships before and it was again special.”

Kohli and Rohit ran just four twos until the 16th over, so thick and fast were the boundaries coming.

However, the batsmen still ran three more twos – two of them off successive deliveries – between the 16th and 30th overs, when Kohli was out lofting Lasith Malinga to the fielder on the cover boundary. In all, 62 runs out of Rohit’s 104 and 80 of Virat’s 131 came in boundaries.