Rohit Sharma's Take On Kuldeep Yadav And Hardik Pandya After IND vs SL Asia Cup Super-4 Match

Rohit Sharma was the highest run-getter for India (53 off 48 balls) as Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage (5/40) and Charith Asalanka (4/18) rattled the top-order with their magical spells.

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma feels India's win over Sri Lanka in a high-pressure Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 stage match "challenged a lot of aspects of India's game" ahead of 2023 ICC Men's ODI World Cup. Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first on a spin-friendly track in Colombo. Batting first, the Men in Blue posted a below-par 213 but a splendid collective bowling effort from Indian spinners carried India to a 41-run win, and into the final of the tournament. Rohit Sharma was the highest run-getter for India (53 off 48 balls) as Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage (5/40) and Charith Asalanka (4/18) rattled the top-order with their magical spells. In reply, early breakthroughs by pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, followed by 4 for 43 from Kuldeep Yadav helped India bowled out Sri Lanka for just 172.

"It was a good game. For us also to play a game like that under pressure. Challenged a lot of aspects of our game," Rohit said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"We definitely want to play on pitches like these to see what we can achieve." Rohit was full of praise for Hardik Pandya (1/14) and Kuldeep Yadav's (4/43) efforts with the ball.

"He's (Hardik) worked hard on his bowling over the last couple of years, and it's pleasing to see how he bowled that spell. Not an easy target to defend. Pitch got slightly better towards the end so we had to hold our nerve and bowl consistently," the skipper said.

"(Kuldeep) again for the past year or so bowling really well. He's worked hard on his rhythm and you can see the results in the last 15 ODIs he's played. He gives us a lot of options. So going forward it's a pretty good sign." Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka was surprised by the turn the wicket provided but praised young Wellalage for his all-round show.

Wellalage first picked up his maiden five-wicket haul and then remained unbeaten on 42 off 46 balls even as wickets kept tumbling at the other end.

"We didn't expect this kind of a wicket, but after the first 10 overs we came into the match brilliantly with the spinners.

"The luxury of the two genuine batters bowling is great, they've done well in the nets but it was great how they performed. After the last game with Bangladesh I sensed he (Wellalage) would do something special," Shanaka said. 

(With PTI Inputs)