Rohit Sharma made a false start in the first two matches of his comeback series before Virat Kohli-starrer Team India played out a double Super Over thriller against Afghanistan on Wednesday. The veteran opener was run out for 0 in the series opener in Mohali, and recorded a golden duck in Indore. But in the dead rubber at Bengaluru, Rohit made amends by playing a captain's knock against a side that had emerged as giant-killers in the 2023 World Cup.
Teaming up with finisher Rinku Singh, captain Rohit rescued India from a batting collapse before masterminding a riveting win for the hosts in the double Super Over thriller. The India opener regained top form by smashing a record-breaking century in the 3rd T20I at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and guided India to a memorable win to emulate legendary cricketer MS Dhoni in T20Is, matching Dhoni's feat of 41 wins as an India's captain.
Gavaskar reacts as Rohit equals Dhoni's T20I record
With Rohit leading from the front and youngster Rinku delivering the goods, former Indian cricketer Rohan Gavaskar opined that Rohit equalling Dhoni's win record is a testament to his captaincy. "This is the format where your captaincy skills are really tested. If he has a higher winning percentage than MS and Virat, that tells you what a good captain he is. What I really liked about this innings is that, generally you say in a T20I game now - the template is to go bang bang bang from the word go. And that is the template that is set. But both Rohit and Rinku used their cricketing intelligence at 22-4 and said no. We can get runs later on but let's just give ourselves a little bit of time," Gavaskar told Cricbuzz.
Rohit goes past Suryakumar and Maxwell
{{/usCountry}}With Rohit leading from the front and youngster Rinku delivering the goods, former Indian cricketer Rohan Gavaskar opined that Rohit equalling Dhoni's win record is a testament to his captaincy. "This is the format where your captaincy skills are really tested. If he has a higher winning percentage than MS and Virat, that tells you what a good captain he is. What I really liked about this innings is that, generally you say in a T20I game now - the template is to go bang bang bang from the word go. And that is the template that is set. But both Rohit and Rinku used their cricketing intelligence at 22-4 and said no. We can get runs later on but let's just give ourselves a little bit of time," Gavaskar told Cricbuzz.
Rohit goes past Suryakumar and Maxwell
{{/usCountry}}Becoming the most successful century maker in T20Is, Rohit surpassed Glenn Maxwell and Suryakumar Yadav with his fifth T20I century for India. Rohit smashed 121 off just 69 balls against Afghanistan, while middle-order batter Rinku chipped in with a crucial 69 not out off 39 balls. The 36-year-old also enjoyed an unbeaten 190-run stand with Rinku as India recovered from 22/4 to post a gigantic total of 212 in 20 overs.
"If we lose a wicket or two here, we'll be 70 all out. We're 90 all out. So let's give ourselves a little bit of time, we have the ability to make up for it as the innings progresses. And they did, last five overs - 100. But this is a one-off. Normally, you want your teams to play in a different template. But to have that cricketing intelligence and the skillset to adapt and adjust and change your game, to what needs to be done, that is key," Gavaskar added.