Rohit blitzes Bangladesh to level series 1-1
His innings was a batting masterclass that had six fours and as many sixes.
It was the Rohit Sharma show as the Indian T20I captain made his 100th international Twenty20 match a memorable one with a 43-ball 85 as India defeated Bangladesh to level the three-match T20I series 1-1.
His innings was a batting masterclass that had six fours and as many sixes as the right-hander took the Bangladesh bowling to all parts of the Rajkot stadium and made easy work of the 154-run target.
Rohit runs riot
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Rohit was so clinical that India had crossed the 50-run mark in the sixth over and the signs were ominous.
In this innings, he also crossed the mark for the most runs in T20I cricket - a spot previously held by his teammate Virat Kohli.
The opener was especially brutal in the 10th over, bowled by Mosaddek Hossain, as he hit the first three balls for massive sixes.
The match was in danger of being abandoned by a cyclone, but the cyclone that was there to be seen was the one by Rohit and his bat.
It also helped the hosts get back on track after a sub-par performance against Bangladesh in the first T20I, which India lost.
A good opening for the Tigers
The match could have been a more competitive contest if Bangladesh had batted better, under excellent batting conditions in the first innings.
After losing the toss, Mahmudullah and co were put in to bat and initially Bangladesh batted very well.
The opening partnership between Liton Das and Mohammad Naim yielded 60 runs in 7.2 overs and it looked like Bangladesh would post a competitive total.
Liton was reprieved twice in his innings of 29 runs but he couldn't make them count as he was run out by Rishabh Pant, after losing sight of the ball and going for a run; it was a careless bit of cricket from the opener.
Naim looked good, especially against the bowling for Mohammad Khaleel, and he took three consecutive boundaries off Khaleel's first three balls.
India's spinners stifle
But as the spinners came into action, Naim got bogged down, and was dismissed for 36 off the bowling of Washington Sundar.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who was the star player from the first T20I, was the next player dismissed, after trying to slog sweep Yuzvendra Chahal, only to be caught at deep sqare-leg.
It was a disappointing performance from the senior statesman, especially when the team needed runs from him, and quickly.
Soumya Sarkar played a few good shots but he too fell to the bowling of Chahal as he was stumped by Pant for 30 runs.
Mahmudullah then tried to steady things but he too couldn't make his start count as he was befuddled by a slower bouncer by Shivam Dube and got caught at short-third man Sreyash Iyer, who took an easy catch.
The innings finally ended on a whimper, despite showing early promise, and Bangladesh fell well short of a competitive total on a pitch that generally produces close to 200 runs in the first innings.
