Asia Cup Twenty20: An Off Day for Shakib Al-Hasan and How Bangladesh Suffered vs India
Bangladesh were mauled by India in the opening match of the Asia Cup Twenty20. Man of the Match Rohit Sharma enjoyed a life when he was dropped by Shakib Al-Hasan when on 21.
Shakib Al-Hasan, arguably Bangladesh's best-known cricketer, had a day to forget after Indian hammered Bangladesh by 45 runs in the first match of the Asia Cup Twenty20 in Mirpur on Wednesday night. (Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma, Ashish Nehra Take India to Big Win Over Bangladesh in Opener)
The former world No. 1 all-rounder dropped a sitter to enable Rohit Sharma race to a match-winning knock and then ran himself out trying to steal a non-existent run. (Scorecard | Highlights)
Rohit single-handedly snatched the match away from Bangladesh's grasp after he was dropped by Shakib on 21. The former Bangladesh skipper dropped a straight-forward catch at point after Rohit cut pacer Taskin Ahmed. Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV that the 'life' to Rohit hurt the home team badly.
Post the 'life', the Mumbai batsman had a strike rate of 229.62. In the 27 balls Rohit faced till he was dismissed, the opener smashed 62 runs, inclusive of six fours and three sixes.
Rohit scored 83 off 55 balls to help India end on 166 for six, a total unexpected when MS Dhoni's team was struggling at 42 for three in the eighth over on a greenish wicket.
Gavaskar praises shot selection
Speaking to NDTV, Gavaskar applauded Rohit. "Rohit has got the ability to time his innings well. His shot selection has been terrific. He made batting look so easy when others were struggling," Gavaskar said. (Asia Cup: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Impressed With 'Fearless' Hardik Pandya)
Shakib's dropped catch was the turning point of the match, felt Gavaskar.
" You just can't drop a player like Rohit and especially when he is in this sort of form. Bangladesh will need to go back and do a lot more fielding practice," said Gavaskar.
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Rohit Sharma's crucial stands
The Mumbai batsman shared two crucial partnership -- 55 runs with Yuvraj Singh (15) for the fourth wicket and 61 runs off 27 balls with Hardik Pandya (31).
"Rohit Sharma-Hardik Pandya partnership did the trick for India. In Twenty20 format chasing anything above 150 is difficult," said Gavaskar.
Rohit has been in the form of his life. He has 11 50-plus scores in Twenty20 internationals. David Warner and Shane Watson are among four more players to have 11 50-plus knocks. (Asia Cup: Ashish Nehra Has Proven Age is Just a Number, Says Sunil Gavaskar)
"It's important for me to start afresh and not look back too much. This is a perfect platform for us before the World Cup," said Rohit after the match.
"It was unusual to see this kind of (green top) wicket in this part of the world. It was always important for one batter to bat as long as possible and I told myself I had to do that.
"I was focusing on my basics on this kind of the pitch, use the pace of the bowlers. It was a good wicket and the ball was carrying," said the opener.
India play Pakistan on Saturday.