Rohit sinks Lanka for series win
Standin skipper’s 35ball ton takes India to record total, hands visitors 88run defeat
the highest T20 total of 263, recorded by Australia against Sri Lanka at Pallekele last year. Sri Lanka promised to make it a close affair only to collapse to 172 in 17.2 overs, losing by 88 runs. missed by Chahal.
The hosts went for the jugular through Kuldeep, who picked three wickets in an over to virtually take the game out of Sri Lanka’s hands. From 145/1 at the start of the 14th over, Sri Lanka were reduced to 161/5 in 15 overs.
Rohit made light of losing the toss before the start, and then backed it with a stunning performance. Scoring the fastest T20 century by an Indian, he guided the team to 100 in 8.3 overs. By the time he fell, India were 165/1 in the 13th over.
Rohit was on the money from the start, hitting Angelo Mathews for two fours in the first over. Soon, he got stuck into
spinner Akila Dananjaya, getting two fours and a six in his very first over.
There was no stopping him after that as Asela Gunaratne bore the brunt of his onslaught going for 20 runs in an over.
Four sixes came off a Thisara Perera over, taking Rohit to 97. A four through cover off Angelo Mathews the second ball of the 12th over took him to the ton.
Rahul went about his job calmly at the other end, scoring 89 (49 balls, 5x4, 8x6). Rahul, 46 off 33 when Rohit was out, took charge, taking 14 runs off Nuwan Pradeep. He and Dhoni then hit six sixes in 14 balls to effectively put the game beyond the visitors.
LUCKY BREAK
Since then he has not played an ODI, getting an opportunity in this T20 series only because Shikhar Dhawan opted out.
While it reflects India’s bench strength, it also shows some sort of confusion. The Indian team management’s insistence on having Ajinkya Rahane only as an opener in ODIS has left a void in the middle, where Rahul was one among the many tried without encouraging results.
Trying Shikhar in ODIS at the top with Rohit Sharma is fine as he has a better average than Rahane and Rahul, but picking him ahead of Rahul in T20 Internationals defies logic.
Rahul has, in fact, far better average in T20 (over 50) than in the other two formats. After his century in Lauderhill against West Indies last year, he has played seven T20 games and given India starts in most of them. India have played 12 T20s in the period. This series he has struck fifties in both matches.
Former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad told Hindustan Times: “He is best suited for the limited-overs format as he is a good stroke-player. He has a variety of shots. Even in Tests, you see how fluent he is and also gets a big score. If he has to play T20s, he has got to bat at the opening slot.”