(Aug 03), Washington Sundar’s actions as India considered implementing a DRS startled Rohit Sharma.
The entertainment is back, along with Rohit Sharma’s return to the Indian team. As was to be expected, the India captain displayed a range of emotions while leading his team during Friday’s first ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
As always, Rohit made decisions and expressed himself on the ground in a way that only he could. When one of his teammates was unable to help with a DRS (Decision Review System), he reprimanded them, and he found it difficult to contain his laughter when Janith Liyanage chose to leave the game before the umpire could even lift his finger.
For the captain of India, it was just that kind of day. It seemed as though Rohit picked up where he left off in Ahmedabad during his first One-Day International since the World Cup final, before getting out to Glenn Maxwell. His scorching 58 off 47 included three sixes and seven fours. But Rohit once again proved why he is the box office while fielding. There were many memorable moments that followed, but the event that happened in the 29th over was arguably the most entertaining.
As he batted to pull Sri Lanka out of the hole, Dunith Wellalage yorked Washington Sundar’s deliveries. A brief appeal is made after. But Washington looks to Rohit, uncertain as the umpire stays put. Even wicketkeeper KL Rahul wasn’t sure at first, so the captain, standing in the slips, shook his head. However, when Washy asked him again, he was unable to resist, and the DRS timer began to rapidly run out.
How did India tie the match from a winning position?
India ultimately made the wise decision to reject the review because there was no pad involved. Wellalage had used his bat to play the entire ball. In the end, the all-rounder from Sri Lanka proved to be the difference as India tied the hosts after being all out for 230 runs. Thanks in part to a top-order fifty from Pathum Nissanka, Wellalage, who had stunned India with a five-wicket haul in a Super Four match the previous year, took 2/39 and scored an undefeated 67 to lead the team to a respectable total.
India seemed to be leading the chase for the longest period of time. In the first ten overs, Rohit and Shubman Gill scored a combined seventy runs, but then the Sri Lankan spinners arrived and slowed the pace. It felt as though India were playing on a different wicket after Rohit’s death. When he was out LBW to Wanindu Hasaranga, the wheels nearly came off for the other returnee, Virat Kohli, who scored 24 off 32 balls.
India desperately needed a partnership, and KL Rahul and Axar Patel provided just that. Before Sri Lanka removed the two set batsmen in back-to-back overs, they put on 57 runs for the sixth wicket. Still 33 short, it was up to Shiva Dube, the final recognized batsman for India, to cross the finish line, and he came close. Dube and Arshdeep Singh were lost by India with two wickets left, allowing Sri Lanka to win with the scores tied at 230 apiece.
