Rohit Sharma showers praises on Virat Kohli for his half century in the 2nd T20I against WI

Virat Kohli scored a crucial half-century for the Indian side in the 2nd T20I match against the West Indies. The 33-year-old batting legend scored a sedate 41-ball 52 against the ‘Men in Maroon’ and his innings was studded with 7 fours and a six.

And now, the skipper of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma has showered praises on Kohli. The ‘Hitman’ stated that Kohli played an important innings for the ‘Men in Blue’. Adding that Kohli took pressure off the other batters with the way he started his innings, Sharma stated that the way Kohli batted was pleasing to the eye.

“It was very important innings from Virat. The way he started off, took the pressure of me as well. We didn’t start well in the first two overs, then he came in and started playing those shots which was very pleasing to the eye,” said Rohit Sharma in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Virat Kohli’s half-century helps India beat the West Indies by 8 runs

Batting first, the Indian side posted a total of 186/5 on the board, with both Kohli and Rishabh Pant slamming half-centuries. Apart from Kohli and Pant, Venkatesh Iyer chipped in with a superb 18-ball 33 as well.

In reply, the West Indies came close, but in the end, could only manage to post a total of 178/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Even though Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell scored splendid half centuries, the ‘Men in Maroon’ fell short of the target set by the Indian side. For India, the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravi Bishnoi picked up 1 wicket each.

Virat Kohli is now closing in on Martin Guptill to become the leading run-getter in T20I cricket. The Indian batting maestro has now amassed 3296 runs at an average of 51.50 in his T20I career and is just 3 runs short of Guptill’s run tally.

We were a bit sloppy on the field and I’m little disappointed with that: Rohit Sharma

India came out triumph in the second T20I of the three-match series against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The match however went right down to the wire with both teams trying to close out the game in their favour till the very end.

Newly-appointed captain Rohit Sharma was pleased with the effort that his team put in and admitted to it as always being a good challenge playing against the West Indies. The opener reserved special praise for his former captain, Virat Kohli, admitting the senior batter helped take pressure off him with his intent.

India ended their first innings with 186 runs on the board riding on Kohli’s and Rishabh Pant’s half-centuries and a valuable contribution of 33 in 18 balls by Venkatesh Iyer.

“Always a fear when you are playing against these guys. We knew it would be a little tough. We were very well prepared. Under pressure, we executed all our plans,” Sharma said in the post-match presentation

“It was very critical given the point of time. Experience plays a part. He was hitting those yorkers and that odd bouncer. We believe in his talent. It was a very important innings by Virat. He took the pressure off me. Great finish from Pant and Iyer as well,” he added

Rohit Sharma critical of team India’s fielding efforts

While Sharma was appreciative of India’s finishing skills with the bat, especially Venkatesh Iyer, the skipper was critical of his team’s fielding performance. The Indians were guilty of putting down multiple chances in the field. Sharma felt the game could have turned out to be different had India held on to the catches that both Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell had offered.

“Very happy to see how he has progressed. To see such maturity is very pleasing. He backs his skills and that is what every captain wants. In the end, he wanted to bowl one over as well. We need such characters in our team. We were a bit sloppy on the field. A little disappointed with that. The game would have been different had we taken those catches,” Sharma concluded

While chasing a score of 187, West Indies closed in on the target riding on Pooran’s fifty (62 off 41 balls) and a brilliant counter-attacking 68 not out from 36 balls by Powell. While the Windies wicketkeeper-batter was dropped when on 21 by Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave Powell a life off his bowling with the batter on 39 at the time.

India however held on their nerves winning the game by eight runs and taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The two teams will stay in Kolkata for the third and final T20 to be played on Sunday at the same venue.