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Rohit Sharma hails batters for big win, speaks on Shanaka-Shami runout controversy


image-lcqgt5y4Rohit Sharma celebrates with teammates (Source: BCCI)

Team India flayed the visiting Sri Lankans by 67 runs in Guwahati to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. Captain Rohit Sharma laid the platform of his team’s emphatic win at the top, alongside opener partner Shubman Gill.

The two cricketers formed a 143-run opening stand, which the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul later capitalised as India piled up 373-7 off their 50 overs.

After the match, Sharma credited the team’s batters for their match-winning exhibition. He also praised his Sri Lankan counterpart Dasun Shanaka for his counterattacking ton late in the game.

Rohit Sharma hails batters, adds bowlers could have done better

The ‘Men in Blue’ had the visitors on the mat at 206-8. However, Dasun Shanaka formed over a 100-run stand with tailender Kasun Rajitha thereafter to significantly reduce the defeat margin to 67 runs.

The Indian captain took note of his bowlers efforts in the death and claimed that they could have done better to stop the Sri Lankan rampage. The cricketer, however, further added that he still does not want to be too critical of the bowling because he believes they bowled well as a unit in their win.

Sharma also commended the efforts of the batters, who pushed India’s total to 373. Virat Kohli was the star performer with the bat through his 113 while KL Rahul provided much stability to the innings following openers’ run riot at the top.

“We started off really well and to get that total was a great effort from all the batters. The platform was set to come out and play freely. I thought we could've bowled slightly better, but don't want to be too critical of it although the dew was not so much. We bowled well as a unit and if you want to win games like this, everyone has to come to the party. There are some areas we need to look at as a group and again it's a team sport,”

In the final over of the match, speedster Mohammad Shami attempted to run-out Shanaka at the non-striker’s end. Sharma later withdrew the appeal citing he wanted to get the batsman out in a more traditional manner. He said:

“No, I mean I had no idea Shami did that. The way he (Dasun Shanaka) batted was brilliant. Cannot get him out like that and wanted to get him out the way we wanted to get him out. Hats off to him.”

The two teams will now clash in the second ODI, slated to be played in Kolkata on January 12.


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