Nidahas Trophy: This is what Rohit Sharma said about Dinesh Karthik’s magical knock

Nidahas
Dinesh Karthik played a magical knock against Bangladesh in the final of the Nidahas Trophy. Image Source: ICC

XtraTime Web Desk: After watching the magical knock by Dinesh Karthik, India skipper Rohit Sharma said that it was important that Dinesh had to believe that he could finish of the game for the team. Rohit sent Vijay Shankar ahead of Karthik at number six and the India skipper revealed that Karthik was a bit upset with the decision, but Rohit told him that, he want Karthik to bat in the final overs and finish off the game for the side.

“It was important that he had to believe he could finish off games for us. I have to go back to the kinds of shots that he has in his books – it suits him to finish off games at the death, because you have to use that one fielder that is inside the circle – either fine leg, or mid off or short third man – he can always play those ramp shots which he played in the end to Rubel. He knows that. When I got out I went and sat in the dugout and he was quite upset that he didn’t bat at six. But I told him, I want you to bat and finish off the game for us, because whatever skill you have, it will be required in the last three or four overs. He can do that for us. That is the only reason he was not batting at six in the 13th over when I got out,” said Rohit at the post match press-conference.

According to Rohit, Karthik was sent to bat at the lower order because the team management wanted one of the experienced guys batting at the end.

“Any changes that we make in the game it is due to some reasons. You think many times before making such changes. It was because we wanted one of the experienced guys batting at the end. I thought Mustafizur would bowl probably the 18th and the 20th over, and we wanted an experienced guy to handle him. We knew he would come out with his off cutters and Dinesh probably would have been a better choice at that point, because when I got out there were eight or nine overs left. We asked Vijay at that point to go after the bowlers and make sure that we get to a decent required run rate. Days like that can happen to anyone. He tried his best and it’s probably the first time he got to bat in the series also. Had we lost the game, you can say that it would have looked bad. But that was the idea – to have Dinesh at the back end, because he’s batted in that position in a list of games for his state teams. Even when he was playing for Mumbai Indians with me, I knew his ability with the bat. He’s got some different types of skill shots that would probably be required at that point at the death overs. That was the only reason we held him back. I can proudly say it paid off,” added Rohit.

Young Washington Sundar is the find of this tournament, he bowled brilliantly throughout the series. Rohit heaped praise on him and said,” I think throughout the series his bowling has been magical for us. What he has done with the new ball is quite incredible I would say. Not anyone can just take the pressure of bowling with the new ball, and bowl within the Powerplay. Not to forget he also got wickets at the same time. He didn’t allow any of the opposition to score runs really in the power play. The skillset that he has – and he’s quite courageous to do what he wants to do in the middle. That effort has to be given a lot of credit. It’s not just one or two games. He consistently bowled in the power play, and always kept us in the games. And he got wickets as well which was curcial. This will give him a lot of confidence going forward.”

Rohit lauded the fight of the Bangladesh Cricket Team as well.” Bangladesh is certainly a very good team. Definitely in this tournament they are a very dangerous team. We saw a few games when they chased more than 200 runs. They’re very fearless. They come out, express themselves, and they enjoy cricket. They are certainly a very good team. Going forward, in the last three years, we’ve seen how they’ve changed their style of cricket. The senior guys are there in the team and there are a few new faces,” said the India skipper.

Lanky Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahaman, bowled brilliantly in the final against India. His 18th over almost took the game away from the Men in Blue. Mustafiz will play for Mumbai Indians in the forthcoming Indian Premier League season 11 and Rohit is excited to have him in the squad.

“I’m excited to have him in the Mumbai Indians squad. He’s certainly an exciting prospect in international cricket. We hope that he comes to MI and does well.”