Rohit Sharma became a star even after scoring just 42 runs in the entire series, India got an impossible victory
Rohit Sharma has scored only 42 runs in both the matches of this series. In the Chennai Test, he scored 6 and 5 runs. In Kanpur, he played innings of 23 and 8 runs. But these 42 runs created history. India defeated Bangladesh 2-0 and strengthened itself in the points table of the World Test Championship. At present, the discussion in the cricket world is that Team India is playing a different 'level' of cricket under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. It is surprising to think that in the Kanpur Test, the Indian team won by batting only 52 overs in both the innings. On the first day, only 35 overs of the Test match could be played. Not a single ball could be bowled on the second and third day. On the fourth day also, the Bangladesh team batted for about 40 overs. Bangladesh also scored 233 runs in the first innings.
That is, now everyone was assuming that the test match was going to be a draw. Because only 40-45 overs were left in the fourth day's play. Even if the Indian team tried to win, it would hardly succeed. Because it had to match the runs scored by Bangladesh. Then Bangladesh's second innings was left. The formula for victory seemed somewhat impossible. But Team India's intentions and attitude were different. These intentions and attitude are possible only under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. Because Rohit has given such confidence to every player of Team India that now they are not afraid of defeat. Rather, every player considers himself a champion.
As a captain, Rohit Sharma does not impose his views on the players. Rather, he himself sets an example. After restricting Bangladesh to 233 runs in the first innings in the Kanpur Test, India could have won only if they called Bangladesh to bat again after scoring so many runs. There was a need to score runs at a very fast pace. In simple words, T20-like batting had to be done in Test cricket. Rohit Sharma started it along with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yashasvi hit 3 fours in the first over. Rohit Sharma hit 2 sixes in the second over. In 3 overs, the Indian team had added 50 runs on the scoreboard. This is the first time in the history of Test cricket that a team has added 50 runs in 3 overs.
After this, the path and intentions were very clear for the rest of the batsmen. Every batsman knew that the captain's innings was saying to go to the crease and score runs at a fast pace. The rest of the batsmen batted in the same manner. As a result, the Indian team scored 285 runs in just 34.4 overs. Run rate 8.22. Remember when was the last time a team batted in Test cricket at a run rate of 8.22. The most notable thing in this was that Rohit scored only 23 runs but those 23 runs showed the way to victory to the rest of the players. And Akashdeep also went by hitting 2 sixes. India secured victory in the match by taking a lead of about 50 runs over Bangladesh in 34.4 overs.
In the last 2-3 years, 'Badgeball' became a popular word in Test cricket. This name, based on the nickname of England's coach Brendon McCullum, simply meant aggressive cricket. Batting at the rate of 5-6 runs per over in Test cricket as well. The art of scoring close to 400 runs in a day's play. Overall, batting in Test cricket is somewhat similar to the ODI format. England also achieved success by playing cricket with this formula. India dimmed the shine of Badgeball. Now, if needed, batting can be done in T20 style in Test cricket as well.
Whatever Rohit thought as a captain, his team did it. This is the reason why he has no runs in the series but the victory is ours. The team's second most experienced batsman Virat Kohli also has only 99 runs in four innings but the victory is ours. Because here R Ashwin scores a century in difficult conditions. Jadeja supports him tremendously. Rishabh Pant scores a century as soon as he gets a chance. Shubman Gill scores a century. Yashasvi Jaiswal scores half-centuries in both the innings of Kanpur. Jasprit Bumrah takes 11 wickets in 2 test matches. KL Rahul bats well. That is, whoever gets a chance is ready to give more than his 100 percent.
Everyone has to contribute to the team's goal. Everyone understands the true definition of the word team. Rohit has given all this to this team. It was some time ago. Rohit had said in an interview that he had scored 5 centuries in the 2019 World Cup, he had about six and a half hundred runs in his account but even after doing all this, there was no World Cup. After that his own perspective changed. Now he does not care much about his runs, his centuries, now only the victory of the team matters to him. He has also instilled this thinking in the minds of the players and has removed a fear from their minds, that fear was the fear of defeat. That is why now Team India looks like a team of a new era.