Asia Cup 2018, Match , India vs Hong Kong- It was a Good Wake Up Call for Us - Rohit Sharma

Team India registered a hard-fought victory by 26 runs in their opening match of the Asia Cup 2018 campaign against Hong Kong in Dubai. However, the latter gave them a tough fight, but in the end, the Men in Blue proved to be a way to good for them.

Earlier in the day, it was a great knock by Shikhar Dhawan which helped India post a competitive score of 285 on the board. However, the Hong Kong opening batters raised hopes of a major upset by setting up a brilliant opening stand of 174 runs during the chase. However, some quick wickets later in the innings again set India back on track, as they registered a 26-run win.

Initially, the India openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan started off cautiously. After a 45-run stand, Rohit Sharma played a terrible shot and got dismissed by Ehsan Khan. From there on, it was Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu who resurrected the innings with a brilliant partnership. However, the weather conditions were getting the better of them, and they were tired of running.

Dhawan smashed some exceptional shots and was at ease against the Hong Kong bowlers. He thrashed the bowlers all around the park during his knock of 127 off 120 deliveries which included 15 fours and a couple of sixes.

Rayudu also played well for 60 of 70 deliveries. However, after the fall of both of their wickets quickly, the Hong Kong bowlers made a terrific comeback in the final ten overs. They conceded only 48 runs and bagged wickets at regular intervals of the game.

India was made to work hard for their victory

It was always going to be difficult ask for Hong Kong especially given the fact that they were bowled out for a paltry score of 116 runs against Pakistan in the other game.

However, the openers, Nizakat Khan and skipper Anshuman Rath, got Hong Kong off to a sensational start. They were hardly troubled by any of the Indian bowlers. They looked in complete command of proceedings and registered a massive partnership of 174 runs.

Nizakat, in particular, looked in great touch and smashed the Indian bowlers quite brilliantly. It was Kuldeep Yadav who gave India the maiden breakthrough. From there on, the Men in Blue bounced back pretty strongly and never allowed the Hong Kong batters to settle in. They eventually fell well short of the target thus handing India a hard-fought victory in the end. Khaleel Ahmed, the debutant was the pick of the bowlers for India along with Yuzvendra Chahal with three wickets each.

Here is what Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper said at the post-match presentation,

“We always knew it was not going to be easy. There are excuses. We made our mistakes. This tournament is all about learning. And these guys will learn. But in the end, the team pulled it back. When the going gets tough, a couple of the characters did well. Great partnership and great batting from the two openers. Great learning for the bowling group. Shikhar was a great positive. It was not easy out there. Amabati got a brilliant fifty as well. Khaleel is a very exciting player to have in our squad. Today, he showed that despite not starting well he found a way to come back and got his rewards in the end. We know we are playing back-to-back and that is why we rested a few players. We are looking forward to the game tomorrow.”