In the thrilling World Cup match, Indian captain Rohit Sharma praised his bowlers for their exceptional performance, restricting Pakistan to a meagre 191 runs on a pitch that seemed relatively unchallenging for bowlers. Five Indian bowlers equally shared two wickets each, contributing to Pakistan’s downfall in just 42.5 overs. India then successfully pursued the target in the 31st over, securing their eighth consecutive victory over Pakistan in ODI World Cups.
Rohit expressed his delight in the role his bowlers played in setting up the win, emphasizing that the pitch was far from being a challenging 190-run wicket. He noted that, at one point, they had been eyeing a total closer to 280 runs, highlighting the impressive tenacity displayed by his bowlers.
He remarked “The bowlers were the ones who set the game up for us. I don’t think it was a 190 kind of pitch. At one stage, we were looking at 280,” said Rohit during the post-match presentation. “The way they (bowlers) showed grit says a lot. That is something we pride ourselves in. Whoever gets the ball does the job for the team.”
He took pride in their adaptability, a hallmark of his team, where every bowler is expected to contribute effectively. Rohit underlined the importance of his role as the captain, mentioning the significance of assessing the conditions and selecting the right bowler for the task at hand.
Rohit Sharma led the team from the front with the bat
He also commended the batting unit, which had been in terrific form leading up to the World Cup, making their plans clear on the lineup. However, Rohit remained cautious, emphasizing the need to maintain momentum and composure without getting carried away by the early success.
He acknowledged the quality of the opposition and emphasized the importance of performing well on each matchday. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who received the Man of the Match award for his spell of 2 for 19, revealed that his focus was on quickly analyzing the wicket to determine the appropriate length.
He explained how he tried to make it as challenging as possible for the Pakistani batsmen, especially with his slower deliveries. Bumrah’s tactics, including slower balls that mimicked spinners, worked well, and he dismissed crucial batsmen, including Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan.
In contrast, Pakistan captain Babar Azam pointed to the batting collapse as the primary reason for his team’s underwhelming performance. Despite a promising start, Pakistan lost eight wickets for just 36 runs after the 30th over, resulting in a subpar total. Babar lamented the sudden fall of wickets and admitted that their initial target of 280-290 runs was unattainable due to the collapse.
He also praised Rohit Sharma for his brilliant innings, acknowledging that Pakistan struggled to make an impact with the new ball and take wickets early in the game. Rohit Sharma praised his bowlers and the batting unit, emphasizing the need for consistency, while Jasprit Bumrah highlighted the importance of reading the wicket. On the other hand, Babar Azam lamented Pakistan’s batting collapse and credited Rohit for his performance.
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