Harbhajan defends Rohit, says he did not misbehave
He wanted to check what is the rule then, where he need to stand, he did not shout at the umpire and asked him why did he not call a wide. I don’t know whether momentum was lost. Rohit was hitting nicely but unfortunately he ended up hitting the ball straight in the air. It happens
Mumbai Indians offspinner Harbhajan Singh said his captain Rohit Sharma, who has been fined for showing dissent, didn’t misbehave with the umpire and was only trying to clarify rules. Sharma was at the crease when Mumbai needed 17 off the last over to win against Rising Pune Supergiant.
The ball was too far outside, to be honest, but I don’t really know whether it was wide or not,” Harbhajan told reporters.
“If the batsman’s legs move, then bowler should get the margin, but Rohit’s one leg had moved and to me it should have been a wide. But we have to move on with the umpire’s decision and they played better than us and it was great game of cricket.
“He wanted to check what is the rule then, where he need to stand, he did not shout at the umpire and asked him why did he not call a wide, he was asking where should I stand so that it is called a wide, if the ball is so wide, the more you move, the bowler will get the margin,” he said. Harbhajan also differed that because of that particular ball, the hosts and specially Sharma lost the momentum. “I don’t know whether momentum was lost (because of the wide not being called), Rohit was hitting nicely but unfortunately he ended up hitting the ball straight in the air. That’s what happens, cricket is game, anything can happen,” he said.
“Just before that he hit a six and a similar ball went up in the air. I don’t think momentum would have lost, at that time (you need to do) as a batter, just see and hit the ball, Rohit was batting on 50 odd, so don’t think there were chances to lose the momentum,” he added.
Harbhajan, however, admitted that the 19th over of their innings bowled by Englishman Ben Stokes brought Pune back into contention. Strokes, the costliest buy of this IPL, conceded only 7 runs, and Mumbai eventually lost by three runs at the Wankhede stadium.
“That over was actually very crucial over for them. We didn’t get any boundary in that over. That over actually changed the scenario for them, they were in the game. 17 to win (in the final over), they were in the game,” Harbhajan said. “I am happy the way I am batting at the moment. It is important to spend time in the middle. Right now the way I am middling and timing the ball, I am Terming Tuesday’s win and the one against Royal Challengers Bangalore as big, Rahane said that each bowler has different stock balls.
“It is not easy to bowl yorkers, everyone has different bowling style. Ben Strokes’ stock ball is the yorker, which you saw in the 19th over. That over was important for us. Jaydev’s (Unadkat) strength is slower ball. Every bowler has different plan,” he signed off.