Team India skipper Rohit Sharma was so close, yet so far to complete the script of a famous Indian victory against Bangladesh during the second ODI of the three-match series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, in Dhaka.
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With a series loss on the line, and already bruised after experiencing the lows of the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, the injured Indian skipper walked out at no.9 in the batting order, in his failed attempt to draw level the series, and avoid their second-consecutive series loss against the hosts in the format.
Arriving in at the crease with his left-hand thumb all taped-up due to an injury suffered during the Bangladesh innings, Rohit still had the task to score around 60 runs in just over seven Overs.
He did take his time during the first dozen deliveries that he faced with Deepak Chahar still at the crease. However, with the latter dismissing just a few deliveries later, the 35-year-old was left all alone with only the specialist bowlers to follow.
However, he stunned the Bangladeshi crowd in disbelief, and rekindled the spark of hope for the Indian fans, when he decided to do the heavy lifting by smashing 3 Sixes and two Fours with the team needing 40 runs off the last 12 deliveries.
With 6 runs required off the last delivery, Rohit failed to get hold of the one final delivery, as India lost the encounter by 5 runs, with him scoring a fine 51* off mere 28 deliveries.
Rohit Sharma’s coach Dinesh Lad hails former’s knock in Dhaka as one of the best in his career
Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad, during an interaction with the Times of India, hails the former’s aforementioned knock against Bangladesh as one of the best in his career so far.
Terming the knock as ‘gutsy’, Lad opined that this particular innings will always remain special for him as it arrived despite him being injured and bandaged. He further commended him for putting aside all the pain, and stated that he would have won the match for India had he received some support from the other end.
“It was really a gutsy innings. This is one of the best knocks he has played in his career. He played many, but this will remain a special one for me and for all fans. He was injured and bandaged and he didn’t care about it. He would have won the match for India if he had got proper support from the other end,” opined Lad.
