USA vs IND: "Trusted all the bowlers..." - Robin Uthappa in awe of Rohit Sharma's captaincy in IND vs PAK clash

Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa praised Rohit Sharma's leadership after the Men in Blue's victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Robin Uthappa said that Rohit Sharma trusted all his bowlers and gave them confidence while defending a below-par total in the high-pressure match.

India secured victory from the jaws of defeat against Pakistan at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9. India defended 119 runs to register their second win in the T20 World Cup 2024. India extended their dominant streak in T20 World Cups to 7-1 against their arch-rivals.

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team achieved the record of defending their lowest T20I total in history. This marked the joint-lowest total defended in T20 World Cup history, with Sri Lanka achieving a similar feat against New Zealand in 2014. The Men in Blue previously defended 138 runs against Zimbabwe in 2016.

Rohit Sharma Trusted All The Bowlers - Robin Uthappa

Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa highlighted that Rohit Sharma had brought his trump card, Jasprit Bumrah, in the third over. Uthappa emphasized how Rohit instilled confidence in the entire bowling unit, not just for that game but for the rest of the tournament.

"What I loved about the second innings was Rohit Sharma's captaincy. Again, what class, responsive captaincy, bro. Anyone in Rohit Sharma's place, defending 120, what would he have done? First, he would have brought the trump card in the first over," Uthappa said.

"He trusted all the bowlers. In doing that, as a leader, he actually gave them confidence. Not just confidence for this game, confidence for the rest of the tournament," he added.

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Brought Jasprit Bumrah For The Most Important Overs - Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa mentioned that Rohit Sharma brought in Jasprit Bumrah for crucial overs in the powerplay. The former batter stated that Bumrah returned in the 5th over to dismiss Babar Azam.

"Saying that, I trust your ability to bowl where you have to bowl, to execute the skills that you have to execute when you have to execute it. He brought Arshdeep in the first over, Siraj in the second over, and then brought Bumrah for the most important overs in powerplay, 3rd and 5th over. Bumrah almost got a wicket in the 3rd over. Shivam spilled it. But again, in the 5th over, he came back and he got Babar Azam out. That captaincy, when he brought the right bowlers, 7th over also, Siraj bowled," Uthappa added.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled the third over while defending the target. Bumrah made an instant impact but created an opportunity with his fourth delivery, but Shivam Dube dropped a simple catch of Rizwan.

Axar Patel Immediately Got A Wicket - Robin Uthappa

The 38-year-old mentioned that Rohit Sharma brought in Axar Patel, who immediately took a wicket. Uthappa also lauded Hardik Pandya's bowling performance. Pandya took two wickets for just 24 runs in his four overs.

"Then he brought Axar on. He brought Jaddu on in the first over, then Axar. When Axar came in, immediately got a wicket. That breakthrough. Class-A lead he did, bro. Immediately, he was just out of the top drop, Rohit Sharma. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant captaincy. And the bowlers were all on point. Even Hardik Pandya, the way he bowled," Uthappa concluded.

The Indian team currently tops the Group A table with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.455. They need one more victory to secure a spot in the Super 8s. They will take on the United States of America (USA) at the same venue on Wednesday, June 12.

Also read: PAK vs CAN: Wasim Akram launches brutal attack; calls for overhaul after Pakistan's loss to India, blasts Rizwan, Fakhar, Iftikhar