The much-awaited India vs. Pakistan encounter will continue on the reserved day, as rain interruptions marred the scheduled day. Before the rain interruption, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put India in a strong position with a 100-run opening stand against the much-revered Pakistan pace attack. However, both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got out in successive overs after reaching the hundred-run partnership.
India was in a strong position at 147-2 in 24.1 overs before the forecasted rain fell, which went on for quite a long period. The match was called off for the day after the groundsmen could not undo the dampness in the pitch and certain parts of the outfield. Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir criticized Rohit Sharma for his dismissal, as India was in a strong position before his wicket.
Rohit Sharma himself knows that shot deserves to be criticized because Pakistan was down and out at that stage – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was speaking in the Star Sports review show and said he was unhappy about the shot that Rohit Sharma played while getting out. The former cricketer pointed out that it gave Pakistan a chance to stage a comeback in the game.
“At one point, it seemed India might score 370-375. Rohit Sharma played a bad shot and Shubman Gill got out in the very next over. You don’t want to give even the slightest window to a bowling attack like Pakistan.” said Gautam Gambhir.
Rohit Sharma scored 56 runs off 49 deliveries, after his initial struggle, before being caught by Fahim Ashraf off the bowling of Shadab Khan in the 17th over. Shubman Gill departed in the very next over after he was deceived by a slower delivery from Shaheen Afridi.
You gave a window and you played that shot against the bowler you had hit for 30 runs in two overs – Gautam Gambhir
The cricketer-politician was even more critical of the skipper for getting out in the bowling of Shadab Khan who had gone for runs in the previous overs he bowled and was offering length deliveries that could be hit. Gambhir felt that the shot was needless and that the spinner would’ve given the batters more opportunities to score if they had remained in the crease.
“If it had been a bowler who had been bowling well, it would have been alright as you were under pressure. If you had just stood there, he would have given you one or two bad balls every over,” said Gautam Gambhir.
The former Indian opener highlighted that Rohit Sharma was not attempting to either take a single or go for a significant boundary shot.
“If you get out while trying to hit properly, you say that you were trying to hit a six, but here, you were neither trying to take a single nor to hit a four or a six” the former India opener added.
Rohit Sharma’s wicket allowed Shadab Khan to finish with respectable figures for the day at 1/45 off his 6.1 overs.