Rohit Sharma has defended Virat Kohli despite his batting struggles in the third T20I between India and Afghanistan at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The recently concluded three-match series marked a significant comeback for both of India’s seasoned batters in T20Is. Having not played in the format since the 2022 T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma featured in all three games, while Virat Kohli made his return in the last two matches.
In the final T20I, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, delivered a remarkable unbeaten century, showcasing his prowess with the bat. However, his predecessor, Rohit Sharma, faced a different fate as he failed to open his account, falling victim to Fareed Ahmad for a golden duck. Kohli’s dismissal came on the very first ball he faced, attempting a pull shot that ended up as a miscue.
Despite Kohli’s early exit, Rohit Sharma spoke highly of his teammate, commending him for displaying intent from the outset. Kohli, who has faced criticism for his strike rate in recent times, earned praise from his captain for choosing an aggressive approach right from the first ball, bringing a sense of satisfaction to the team.
“Virat doesn’t usually play the first ball like this but he showed great intent,” Rohit Sharma told JioCinema.
Rohit faced an early dismissal in the second T20I, falling to the very first ball in an attempt to play aggressively. His first-game performance wasn’t any better, as he scored a duck. However, he made a remarkable comeback in the third game, where he, as a right-handed batsman, notched up a record fifth T20I century. His outstanding performance continued into the super overs, propelling the team to a total of 212 runs in 20 overs.
In an intriguing turn of events, Afghanistan equaled India’s 212 runs in the second innings, leading the match into a Super Over. Interestingly, the first Super Over concluded on a level playing field as well, but India comfortably secured a win in the second one. As a result, India clinched the T20I series with a 3-0 victory.
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