Kolkata: From the outside, Virat Kohli’s record-equalling 101 off 121 balls against South Africa on Sunday might look a bit laborious, but Indian captain Rohit Sharma termed the innings as one that suited the conditions and the match situation.
Kohli’s 49th ODI hundred paved the way for India’s 326 for five on a slightly diffident Eden Gardens pitch, which proved way over the par in the end.
“If you look at how we have played in the last three games, we have adapted better. Today, we needed Kohli to go out there and play to the situation. We then knew we had to keep it in the right areas (with the ball) and let the pitch do the rest,” said Rohit during the post-match presentation.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has also got his mojo back and scored back-to-back fifties. When asked about Iyer repaying the faith of the backing, Rohit asserted he would have still stuck with him even if he failed in the last couple of matches,
“Even if the faith hadn’t been repaid, I would have still stuck to them. We need to keep the trust. It can’t be done every day. The last two games have shown what Iyer is capable of,” he added.
“Gill and I have been batting together for a majority of time now. We let our instincts take over. We don’t preplan anything. We just assess and play accordingly,” he added.
After winning the toss Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave a solid start to India once again with a 62-run stand before Kagiso Rabada got the better of the Indian skipper.
The swashbuckling opener said they don’t preplan anything before going out in the middle and just play according to the conditions.
“Gill and I have been batting together for a majority of the time now. We let our instincts take over. We don’t preplan anything. We just assess and play accordingly,” he added.
The skipper also heaped praise on Ravindra Jadeja for his all-round show as he claimed a fifer and also scored vital 29 runs off 15 balls.
“Jadeja has been very good for us. Playing in every format over the years. Today was a classical case as to what Jadeja is for us. Came out at the death and scored vital runs. Then picked up wickets. He knows his role and knows what the expectations from him,” Rohit said.
The 36-year-old talked about the tough character of the team which has helped them overcome difficult situations in the last three games.
“If you look at how we have played in the last three games, we have adapted better. We were put under pressure against England. But we got a decent score and then the seamers did the job. We lost a wicket in the first over. Then got runs and then the seamers did well,” he added.
