Cheteshwar Pujara heaped praise on Rohit Sharma for not letting matches slip in the middle-overs, where most teams tend to lose the plot. The 36-year-old Rohit has been having a dream run in World Cup 2023 as India have won all six of their matches until now in the tournament.
On Sunday, October 29, India beat England by 100 runs at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow and reclaimed the top spot in the points table.
Pujara also lauded Rohit for making proper use of Mohammed Siraj, although he was the only bowler to not have taken a wicket against the Three Lions.
“He has been brilliant, not just in this game. If you look at the way he has led the team in the entire World Cup, especially the way he brings in the seamers. We have seen that Siraj hasn’t started well in many games now; it’s been two or three games where he hasn’t bowled well with the new ball.
“But it’s about how Rohit uses him in the middle overs. Whenever Rohit has used Siraj in the middle overs, he has given the breakthrough,” Pujara was quoted as saying on ESPNcricinfo.
“And he has been very smart as he has led India well in the middle overs. Not many captains are able to do that. The 10 to 40 over period is the most important in ODIs. Rohit knows that he has to be aggressive, pick those wickets in the middle phase, which he has been able to do,” he added.
Against England, India scored 229 for nine after being sent in to bat first. Thereafter, the Men in Blue bowled the Three Lions out 129 in 34.5 overs after Mohammed Shami picked up four wickets.
India’s next match is against Sri Lanka on Thursday, November 2 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
