Rohit Sharma’s 83 proved to be the difference between India and Bangladesh on a green pitch in Mirpur as India won the Asia Cup opener by 45 runs. After being asked to bat, India did well to post 166 after being just 52/3 in 10 overs.
The visitors scored 114 runs in the final 10 overs thanks to Rohit Sharma and a cameo from Hardik Pandya, which meant India got an above-par total. Right from the start, Bangladesh didn’t look like they were going to chase it down.
Once they lost both openers inside the opening four overs, it was going to be difficult for the hosts and that is how it turned out to be as they fell well short of the target.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza: Last 15 years I've seen that fans always support us. We were in the game till the 14th over but after that Rohit took the game away from us. We bowled a lot of slower ones later and the ball was not gripping.
Perfect platform for us before the World Cup: Rohit
For his 83, that set up the massive total on a green pitch, Rohit Sharma got the Man of the Match. He said: “It's important for me to start afresh and not look back too much. This is a perfect platform for us before the World Cup. It was unusual to see this kind of wicket in this part of the world.
“It was always important for one batter to bat as long as possible and I told myself I had to do that. I was focusing on my basics on this kind of the pitch, use the pace of the bowlers. It was a good wicket and the ball was carrying.”
After back problems plagued him over the last couple of days, MS Dhoni was understandably happy to be back on the fielding and winning another match. “It would've been good to win the toss. We wanted to see the kind of start and then set a target. It was kind of 55-45 with the toss,” he said.
“Rather than hitting the big shots straight down, it was important to cut and use such shots since they were bowling short of length. Batting fearlessly is Hardik's strength and that's why we want to give him more matches, he's a good fielder too and a useful third seamer. I'll be able to sit tomorrow (about the back).”
Here is what the cricketing fraternity had to say on the Asia Cup opener.
Virender Sehwag on Ashish Nehra's impressive bowling performance:
Former Australian batsman Dean Jones was certainly having a blast:
There were plenty of comments on pitch produced in Mirpur, Harsha Bhogle:
Aakash Chopra:
Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq on Yuvraj Singh:
Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra:
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