IND vs SL: Rohit Sharma Was So OffBeat With His Captaincy - Pragyan Ojha Praises The Mumbaikar's Efficient Leadership Skills

Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha showered praise on Indian captain Rohit Sharma after the win in the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Thursday. It was also the tenth consecutive win for the home side in the shortest format of the game.

Apart from winning the toss, the Lankans didn’t have a say in the game as they were crushed by the Indian top-order. Ishan Kisha scored 89 while Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 58, taking India to a mammoth target of 199/2 on an uneven surface.

During the run chase, the Lankans lost Pathum Nissanka off the very first ball to Bhuvneshwar Kumar which set the tone for Rohit and co. They piled on the misery and barring a fight from Charith Asalanka, there were no silver linings for the visitors. Speaking about the win, Ojha was impressed with the way Rohit marshalled his troops.

“Rohit Sharma didn’t really show the teeth that are normally used to bite and he decided that ‘Today I will toy with Sri Lanka’. He was so offbeat, he was using even his fourth, fifth, and sixth choice bowlers so that they gain some confidence and that was great to see,” Ojha told Cricbuzz.

“He gave Deepak Hooda some match practice” – Pragyan Ojha

Since the game was pretty much over inside the first few overs of the second innings, Rohit decided to test his second-choice bowlers. He gave the ball to Venkatesh Iyer and Deepak Hooda, helping them acclimatise to the international level. Additionally, Hooda was also playing his debut T20I and hadn’t gotten a chance to bat during India’s innings.

“He knows what to expect from someone like Bumrah or Bhuvneshwar. So here, he gave Hooda some match practice, thinking that this is the chance to keep them prepared for any situation in which they might have to be used later on,” Ojha added.

Following the 62-run victory, the teams now head to Dharamshala for the 2nd and 3rd T20I set to be played on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

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