(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] India achieved their fourth consecutive win in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Bangladesh on Thursday at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The Rohit Sharma-led side was at the top of their game as they handed a seven-wicket defeat to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, batting first, reached a score of 256 for the loss of 8 wickets. Openers Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das tackled the Indian pacers exceptionally well in the first powerplay. The Bangladesh middle order was not up to the mark, but Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah scored some crucial runs coming down the order to take the team’s total to 256.
The target never looked threatening as India captain and opener Rohit Sharma alongside Shubman Gill provided a fine start before getting out to Hasan Mahmud and Mehidy Hasan Miraz respectively. Mehidy took another wicket as he dismissed Shreyas Iyer for 19. But Virat Kohli and KL Rahul ensured a turbulence-free run chase.
Rohit, after the match in a conversation with Shubman, revealed that Shardul Thakur was in the management’s plans as a No.5 instead of Rahul.
Rohit, in a video released by BCCI, said that Shardul was not ready with pads and a bat when Iyer got out. Therefore, they had to send in Rahul.
“I told Shardul to get ready on the ball that Shreyas Iyer got out. I told him ‘Shardul, you will be in next.’ But Shreyas got out on that delivery and by the time Shardul came down getting ready, Rahul had gone into bat,” Rohit said.
Rohit further stated, when asked by Shubman, that fans were eagerly waiting to see Shardul bat, to which he hilariously replied, “They will get the chance. He is a big match player.”
India’s next World Cup match is scheduled against New Zealand on October 22 in Dharamsala.