Rizwan-Nawaz partnership was a bit too long for us: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma / Source: Twitter

Pakistan, on Sunday, September 4, pulled off a phenomenal run-chase to decimate team India in the Super Four game of the ongoing continental tournament at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

The Men in Green hunted down the target of 182 runs with one ball to spare to make it a 1-1 after earlier losing to their arch-rivals exactly a week before in a Group A clash at the same venue in Dubai.  

The wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Nawaz were the chief architects of Pakistan's record run-chase victory over Rohit Sharma's team. 

The Pakistan duo cobbled up a crucial 73-run stand off just 41 deliveries and changed the course of the entire game. 

While Rizwan continued his red-hot form and scored 71 runs off 51 balls, Nawaz came out all guns blazing to score 42 off 20 balls with six fours and two sixes.

Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma, speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony, conceded that it was Rizwan and Nawaz's partnership that eventually made the difference in the end. 

"Yeah, obviously, it was a high-pressure game. We can't let things slip away. we tried our best to be calm, and we were. I think in the middle as well as in the later half. Nawaz and Rizwan batted brilliantly and I feel that partnership was a bit too long for us."

"If you're not going to pick wickets, it will be tough"

Further shedding light on India's bowling performance in the high-octane clash, Sharma said things will always get difficult when the team doesn't get wickets when needed and that is precisely what happened on Sunday against Pakistan.

Yuzvendra Chahal, one of India's frontline spinners looked far from his best against Babar Azam & Co and went on to leak runs at an economy of 10.75. 

Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, came out to be the biggest disappointment for the team both with the bat and ball. After scoring a two-ball duck in the first half of the game, the Baroda all-rounder went on to concede runs at an economy of 11. 

"I thought it was a good score. Any pitch, any conditions when you get 180 it's a good score. But if you don't pick wickets in the middle, it's going to be tough."

Rohit also backed team India's new batting approach in T20Is, stating:  

"Moving forward that is the kind of approach we want to take. We won't get success every time and with the team, we are all okay with that."

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