IND vs SL 2017: Rohit Sharma Lauds Team India for their Fighting Character

Updated - 18 Dec 2017, 08:29 PM

Rohit Sharma India Team Sri Lanka
Indian team captain Rohit Sharma gestures during a practice session ahead of the third One Day International (ODI) cricket match between India and Sri Lanka at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on December 16, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NOAH SEELAM / GETTYOUT---IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE----- / GETTYOUT (Photo credit should read NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images)

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Team India registered yet another series victory, as they won the 3rd and the decisive ODI against Sri Lanka by eight wickets to seal the series 2-1.

India had gone down 0-1 in the series and just like against New Zealand, the Men in Blue staged a dramatic comeback and came up with some extraordinary performances in the 2nd and the 3rd ODI.

Riding on exceptional bowling performances, especially by spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, India managed to restrict Sri Lanka to a modest 215 runs despite Upul Tharanga’s brilliant knock of 95.

While chasing it was the 10th ODI century from the blade of Shikhar Dhawan which ensured an Indian victory by eight wickets and with nearly 18 overs to spare. Youngster Shreyas Iyer also chipped in with a crucial half-century.

Rohit Sharma ICC ODI Rankings Chahal
Rohit Sharma.

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Indian stand-in-skipper Rohit Sharma lauded the two spinners and said that the duo had performed together whenever they have been handed the opportunities.

“They haven’t bowled much together as bowlers, but whenever they have played, they bowled really well. They put us in the driver’s seat. The youngsters bring a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and talent to the group and it’s a perfect time to try them,” Rohit said.

Rohit also hailed the team for their exceptional comeback in the series especially after humiliating defeats at Dharamshala.

“Terrific comeback after the first game. We showed plenty of character. Even today at one point they were going at six an over and to pull the game back from there is magnificent,” Rohit said.

Sourav Ganguly, India Vs Sri Lanka, Mohali, Rohit Sharma, Double-Hundred,
Rohit Sharma exulted after third double-hundred. Photo Credit: BCCI.

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Sri Lanka after batting first had gone off to a brilliant start with Upul Tharanga and Sadeera Samarawickrama going great guns. The southpaw, in particular, was finding the boundaries on a consistent basis and struck some gigantic blows out of the stadium. He was looking set for his 16th ODI ton, but just then it was the combination of Kuldeep Yadav and MS Dhoni which brought about his downfall. The visitors lost heaps of wickets in the middle-overs which never allowed them to press the accelerator and go for quick runs.

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Kuldeep Yadav Rohit Sharma Sri Lanka national cricket team Yuzvendra Chahal