Rohit Sharma Dazzles, Confounds And Earns Redemption In Field Vs West Indies In Hyderabad T20I

The first Twenty20 International between India and West Indies witnessed the ball chasing Rohit Sharma to all parts of the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad. In the death overs, West Indies were given a big boost by Shimron Hetmyer's maiden fifty and an earlier blitz of 40 by Evin Lewis. In the death overs, Kieron Pollard was giving Hetmyer company and West Indies were on course to go past 200. However, in the 17th and 18th over, there was an exhibition of fielding by Rohit Sharma in which he dived and saved runs, dropped a catch and finally earned redemption with a catch.

The sequence started in the first ball of the 17th over bowled by Deepak Chahar. Hetmyer thumped a full ball down the ground where Washington Sundar, who had dropped a catch in the previous over, once again fluffed the chance and the ball was headed to the boundary. However, Rohit put in an acrobatic effort by diving forward and stopping the ball from reaching the fence. In the next ball, Rohit put in a sensational effort. Pollard top-edged the pull to long on but he hit it with such power that it was going over the ropes at long on. However, Rohit stuck out his right hand and the ball was nestled in his palms.

The momentum, though, was taking him over the ropes and his awareness was such that he flicked the ball back onto the field. In the space of two balls, he had saved seven runs. However, Rohit soon felt the old adage that cricket is a great leveller. Chahar bowled a short ball and Pollard blasted the pull shot to widish long on. Rohit, positioned near the boundary, lined up to take a simple catch but the ball burst through his fingers and went away for a six.

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With India dropping so many catches in the death overs, West Indies made them pay and the stage was set for a big onslaught. In the 18th over, there was redemption for Rohit as Hetmyer swept a flighted delivery to long leg where Rohit finally took the catch. Chahal got the wicket of Pollard as well but India could not prevent West Indies from going past 200. With Windies ending on 207/5, India now face an uphill task as they have to achieve their highest successful chase in the format.

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