'Was He Being Too Greedy?' Sunil Gavaskar Reflects On Rohit’s Dismissal In WC Final
.jpg)
Rohit Sharma in the World Cup 2023 final (AP Photos)
If there was one major point where the World Cup 2023 final turned on its head then it was Rohit Sharma’s dismissal during the last over of the first powerplay. Prior to his dismissal, Rohit was plundering runs at a rapid rate. Despite losing Gill early, India raced to 76-1 inside the first 10 overs. Rohit looked set to mount a big score for himself and for his side in front of a fully packed Ahmedabad crowd. But such aspirations had ceased to exist when Glenn Maxwell had Rohit caught at cover thanks to an amazing bit of fielding effort from Travis Head.
Many experts believed that the Indian skipper did not really need to go after Maxwell’s bowling. Previously, Rohit had already scored two boundaries in that over comprising a solitary four and six. As fate would have it, Rohit’s rash shot selection diminished India’s chances of posting a fighting total. From clobbering 8 fours and 3 sixes in the first the 10 overs, to just 4 fours across the next 40, India failed to up the ante and eventually paid the price.
.jpg)
Former legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar expressed his views on Rohit Sharma’s dismissal. While writing in his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar highlighted that Rohit had already scored 10 runs in that over with 3 balls to go. The former Indian captain added that Sharma could have lowered his tempo after going big in the first half of the over and exercised more caution after the fall of Gill’s wicket.
"Travis Head's superlative turning and running back catch dashed India’s hopes of getting a 300-plus score. That catch dismissed Rohit Sharma, who once again stormed his way to another quickfire 40-plus. That wicket fell in the final over of the first Powerplay where there are only two fielders allowed outside the 30-metre circle. He had already hit a six and a four in the over and was obviously trying to capitalise on the few deliveries left before the Powerplay finished. Was he being too greedy? Could he not have curbed himself since Shubman Gill had already been dismissed?"
In the end, India ended with a sub-par total of 240 which was gunned down by Travis Head who blasted a blistering century of 137(120) to power his side to their sixth World Cup title win.
 "Datrim")
