Rohit Sharma Credits Mohammed Shami For India's Heroics At Hamilton

Post India’s nail-biting victory, Rohit Sharma said that it was pacer Mohammed Shami’s last over that sealed the game for India. The India opener hit a well-paced 40-ball 65 and came back in the Super Over to hit two consecutive sixes to help India pocket the five-match series, with two to play. 

Mohammed Shami defended nine runs in the final over and set-up a Super Over clash with New Zealand. The pacer didn’t start off on a good note, as he delivered a full-toss which was taken to the cleaners by Ross Taylor. The next delivery produced a single as the batters cramped for a single. With two to defend off four balls, Shami dismissed a well-settled Kane Williamson for 95. Tim Seifert was the new-man in and he played a dot ball and followed it with one run, courtesy a bye. Shami had the final laugh as he picked up Taylor’s wicket to restrict the hosts to 179/6. 

“I think Mohammed Shami”s last over was crucial, and actually that got us the victory. Not my two sixes. It was Shami”s over where we defended nine runs. It”s not easy with the dew,” Rohit said at the post-match conference. 

Rohit went berserk, overshadowed Williamson’s heroics

Williamson’s heroics went in vain. The Kiwi skipper hit Jasprit Bumrah for three consecutive boundaries and didn’t spare the rest of the pack. With Bumrah going for plenty, someone had to press the brakes. Rohit lauded Shami’s efforts as the pacer finished with figures of 2/32.

“The wicket settling in nicely and two set batsmen out there as well… One batsman was batting on 95 and their most experienced player was at the other end. Hats off to Shami to bowl that over and get us back into the game and into the Super Over.” The India deputy added. 

On the top-order among runs and neck-to-neck competition for a place in the side, Rohit said that grabbing the opportunity is important. “Whenever anyone”s got an opportunity, they have made it count. Shikhar (Dhawan) as well, when he played the last series against Sri Lanka, he got a crucial 50 and then KL (Rahul) has been in good form over the last 7-8 T20s, he”s got probably 4 or 5 fifties,” Rohit said.