Rohit Sharma Shouldn't Have Been Allowed To Bat In Second Super Over - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra feels that Rohit Sharma shouldn’t have been permitted to bat in the second Super Over during the third T20I against Afghanistan. Aakash Chopra highlighted that Rohit Sharma was ‘retired out’ in the first super over of the final game in the recent series.

Rohit Sharma played a key role in India’s victory in Bengaluru on Wednesday, January 17. He rescued India from a challenging situation at 22/4 and helped the team reach a total of 212 runs. He scored an unbeaten 121 runs off 69 balls, including 11 fours and eight sixes.

Rohit Sharma Was Retired Out – Aakash Chopra

In a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that match officials should not have allowed Rohit Sharma to participate in the second Super Over, emphasizing that it was against the rules.

“Rohit Sharma was retired out. Retired hurt means there should be an external injury on the field of play and there the umpires allow you to bat again. Retired out means your innings is over, you cannot come back again,” Chopra said.

“So as soon as he went out, I said on commentary that he cannot come to bat. It’s done because he had lost his wicket. Rinku Singh and Rohit Sharma came back and I thought it was wrong. Rohit Sharma shouldn’t have been allowed to bat according to the rules,” he added.

The 36-year-old hit two sixes off the third and fourth deliveries to bring the equation to three runs needed from the final two balls. He opted to retire out after taking a single on the penultimate ball, bringing Rinku Singh to the crease for quick running on the last delivery.

However, Rohit Sharma was allowed to bat again in the second Super Over despite being retired out. The skipper smashed a six and a boundary on the first two balls. However, the team lost two wickets off the next three balls, setting a target of 12 runs for Afghanistan.

Sanju Samson Had Already Been Dismissed For A First-Ball Duck – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra expressed surprise at the Indian team’s decision to send Sanju Samson as the third batter in the second Super Over instead of Shivam Dube. Chopra highlighted that Shivam Dube could have been a better choice, especially against a left-arm pacer.

“Sanju Samson came when Rinku got out and I was shocked. Nothing against Sanju but he had already been dismissed for a first-ball duck. He didn’t get a chance to bat much as he got out off the first ball,” Chopra further stated.

“Shivam Dube was sitting out and you didn’t send him. Fareed Ahmad was bowling. Dube hits left-arm pace as well. I was surprised. We scored 11 runs only. In fact, we didn’t even play the entire six balls, we were bowled out on the fifth delivery itself,” he concluded.

Ravi Bishnoi secured India’s victory by conceding only one run and dismissing Mohammad Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first three balls. India completed a 3-0 whitewash in their last T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the West Indies.

Also read: How Rohit Sharma Batted In 2nd Super Over Despite Being Retired Out In 1st Super Over vs Afghanistan? ICC Law Explains The Rule