Bangladesh vs India, 2nd ODI: Rohit Sharma said he did not suffer a fractured finger even as he was taken to the hospital for scans after taking a blow to his hand in Mirpur on Wednesday. India lost the 2nd ODi by 5 runs.
Rohit Sharma hit a 28-ball 51, braving a finger injury (AFP Photo)
By India Today Web Desk: India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed he had not picked up a fractured finger, providing an update about the injury scare that he suffered during the 2nd ODI of a 3-match series in Bangladesh on Wednesday. Rohit went to the hospital for scans after he took a blow to his hand as early as the second over of the match while fielding at slips.
Rohit Sharma did not take the field as he was taken to hospital for scans on his injured finger. On his return to the dressing room, Rohit was seen with taping on his left thumb as he did not take the field for the rest of the Bangladesh innings.
However, Rohit Sharma braved the injury concern to walk out to bat for India at No. 9 in a tense chase of 272. After another top-order failure, India were provided hope by Shreyas Iyer (82) and Axar Patel (56) who stitched a 100-plus stand. However, the two batters departed in quick succession, leaving a lot to do to Rohit, who was in discomfort.
Bangladesh vs India, 2nd ODI Highlights
Rohit chose not to bat at the top of the order and in the middle-order and delayed his arrival but he was forced to walk out to bat in the 43rd over when India needed more than a run-a-ball.
Rohit took the onus upon himself as he batted with No 10 Mohammed Siraj and No. 11 Umran Malik to take India closer to the finish line. The skipper hit 5 sixes and 3 boundaries for his 28-ball 51 but India fell short of the target by 6 runs.
Rohit was left disappointed as he had braved his finger injury to take the attack to the Bangladesh bowlers in a thrilling run-chase.
“Honestly, the thumb is not too great. Some dislocation on the finger, but not a fracture, which is why I could come and bat,” Rohit said, allaying fears over his availability for the all-important Test series in Bangladesh later in December.
India lost an ODI series in Bangladesh for the second successive time after an MS Dhoni side last faced a 2-1 defeat in 2015.
Rohit Sharma pointed out that it’s not right to have half-fit players and it’s important that the team management gets to the bottom of the issue as he referred to the injury woes to multiple India players in the ODi series in Bangladesh.
Mohammed Shami, who was picked for the series, was ruled out before the tour but the likes of Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Sen and Axar Patel faced injury issues. Pant was ruled out while Axar couldn’t play the series opener. Sen made his ODI debut on Sunday but was ruled out of the 2nd ODI due to back stiffness.
“Few injury concerns and we need to get to the bottom of it; maybe they’re playing too much cricket. It’s something we have to sit down with our team at NCA and try and monitor their workload. Can’t afford to have half-fit players representing India,” he added.
ROHIT POINTS FINGERS AT BOWLERS
Furthermore, Rohit credited Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah for their heroic effort with the bat, highlighting that India need to improve when it comes to being decisive in crucial moments with the ball.
Bangladesh were reeling at 69 for 6 in the 2nd ODI but a hundred from Mehidy and 77 from Mahmudullah in a record-setting 148-run stand for the 7th wicket helped them post 271. In the first ODI as well, Mehidy stitched a 51-run stand for the 10th wicket in a low-scoring thriller to help Bangladesh win.
“From 70 for 6 to allow them to 270-odd was not a great effort from the bowlers. The middle overs and back end are hurting us – it hurt us in the first game as well.
“We need to focus on what we need to do as individuals but not taking anything away from Mehidy and Mahmudullah. But we need to learn how to break partnerships and that’s something that will hold you in good stead. In one-day cricket, it’s all about partnerships like those guys did it,” Rohit added.
Published On:
Dec 7, 2022
Source: www.indiatoday.in
