Cool man’s wise men

Rohit Sharma’s calm against Bangladesh was infectious, though he’ll be the first to acknowledge the luxury of various experienced heads around him

Rohit Sharma admitted to being both calm and nervous during the second half of Bangladesh’s chase at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night. The nervousness was easy to understand, because India’s T20 World Cup campaign hung by a slender thread when Litton Das lay into their bowling with gusto. The calmness stemmed from 15 years of international cricket and the realisation that no match is won until it is lost, especially against Bangladesh.

The rain break with Bangladesh on 66 without loss in seven overs, chasing 185 for victory, provided welcome relief. The revised equation, 85 from nine overs, was still a stiff ask, but the momentum was with Litton and India appeared bereft of ideas as the opener occasionally chanced his arm but often played brilliant cricketing strokes that made batting on a tricky surface appear a walk in the park.

It’s not clear who said what at the 52-minute interval, but it was obvious that a different Indian side was on show thereafter. It helped that, off the second ball on resumption, KL Rahul produced a magical piece of fielding, running to his left at deep mid-wicket and breaking the stumps at the non-striker’s end to end Litton’s interest for the evening. Efforts such as this, out of the ordinary, have the power to lift a team, to energise and inspire them. India took a cue from their vice-captain’s alacrity and accuracy, and suddenly it seemed as if there were 15 fielders on the park as they took a stranglehold on the proceedings.

India’s faultless catching

Calmness best manifests itself in the catching. Bangladesh had spilled two of reasonably straightforward proportions earlier in the night, but under immense pressure against the grey sky and with time to think as fielders got under steepling skiers, India were faultless. Perhaps much of that has to do with the oft-maligned IPL, which helps players rid stage-fright in a most competitive non-international environment. 

The felicity with which Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and substitute Deepak Hooda held dodgy catches is a testament to the self-belief percolating through the ranks.

Also read: Suryakumar Yadav is World No.1 T20I batter

Rohit’s calm was infectious, though he will be the first to acknowledge that in the presence of Rahul, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya, who have all led the country and their respective franchises, he had wise heads all around him. Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar played the senior statesmen role to perfection when Arshdeep was readying to send down crucial overs and collectively, India were more driven and desperate while Bangladesh, for some reason, chose to ride on optimism rather than conviction.

Another close victory

For the second time in four games, India have come out on the right side of a close battle. This wasn’t as exhilarating as the one against Pakistan, but it was anything but straightforward and the thrill that accompanies such victories will have a domino effect that can propel a team onwards and upwards.

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