Debasis Sen, Port Elizabeth: India cricketer Rohit Sharma feels the ODI series win against South Africa on Tuesday at St Georges Park should rank as the best in recent times. Kohli and his team won the fifth ODI by 73 runs here last night to grab an unassailable 4-1 lead in the six-match series. The last game is scheduled on February 16 in Centurion.
“Absolutely, I think this is the biggest overseas victory (in ODIs). This is a good win because this was a bilateral series. Before this, we won the CB tri-series in Australia (2007-08). Even that series was quite tough,” said Rohit after the match here.
Rohit laid the platform for a big win by notching up his 17th ODI ton. He scored a brilliant 115 runs opening the batting for India. But the Mumbai batsman did not feel the need to celebrate his hundred as he was involved in the run outs of captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
According to Rohit, “Celebration… yaar two guys got run out before me earlier so there was nothing to celebrate about. I was not in mood to celebrate. But I knew that if we could get 270-280 it will be difficult for them because we knew the wicket is very slow and anything could happen as our wrist spinners are bowling very well and they have troubled their batsmen a lot. So we knew that 270-280 was a good chance to win.”
Talking about the series win, Rohit said, “For me, it is difficult to compare the two. I think this series means a lot to us. The way we played from the first game, we have dominated the series, and the result is there for all to see,” he added.
Sharma said the tough conditions, coupled with the fact that his team clearly dominated, made the victory a special one.
“This will be right up there. After 25 years we have won a series in South Africa. It is not the easiest place to play cricket, definitely not the easiest place to win a series. I think a lot of credit goes to the boys,” he said.
“Everybody who got an opportunity put his hand up and took up the challenge. If you look at the entire ODI series, it was a dominant performance for us. It will only give us confidence as a team to go outside and keep winning those series,” he added.
Sharma felt the Test series, which the visitors lost 1-2, was not a one-sided affair either.
“The Test series was very close, I believe. It could have gone either way. Anyway, we are very proud of our performance and very proud of what we achieved today,” he said.
The only concern for India has been the middle order not clicking in the series. Rohit also admitted that the top three has been contributing heavily for India in recent times but at the same time he feels it augurs well for the team.
“The bulk of scoring has been done by top 3-4 guys. I know our middle order hasn’t gotten enough opportunities. If their batting doesn’t come so we cannot do anything. If we are playing well, we cannot come back retired hurt… whatever series we have played before in india and in champions trophy also lot of the scoring has been done top three guys. It augurs well with the team also if, we always talk about batsmen batting through the innings. That is what we are trying to do. Top three have got the best opportunity because they get to play maximum balls. So our three’s responsibility is that if we are set then we have to try and play long,” signed off Rohit.