New Delhi: Rohit Sharma (37-ball 56) and Kl Rahul (35-ball 54) shared a solid match-winning 59-ball 86 partnership for the first wicket after Ravindra Jadeja (3/16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/20) bowled magical spells to power India to 9-wicket win over minnows Namibia in their final match of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Virat Kohli did not get to bat in his last game as T20 captain but he and coach Ravi Shastri did get to end their World Cup campaign on a high as team India managed to bow out with a resounding win over Namibia. Not only Kohli and Shastri, but even bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R. Sridhar's tenure with the national squad ends on a winning note. Batting coach Vikram Rathour has reapplied for the position.
During the post-match interview, Virat Kohli revealed why he did not come out to bat out at number three after India lost its first wicket in form of opener Rohit Sharma. Virat said he thought of giving Suryakumar Yadav a chance to bat as the young talented batsman didn't get much game time in this World Cup.
"Relief firstly (on leaving T20I captaincy). It's been a honor but things need to be kept at the right perspective. I felt this was the right time to manage my workload. It's been six or seven years of heavy workload and there is a lot of pressure. The guys have been fantastic, I know we haven't got the results here but we have played some really good cricket. The guys have really made my work easier. The way we played the last three games, it's a game of margins - T20 cricket these days. Two overs of attacking cricket at the top is what we were missing in the first two games. As I said, we weren't brave enough in those games and in the group we were in, it was tough," Virat Kohli said after India vs Namibia match.
"A big thank you to all those guys. They have done a great job over the years, creating such a wonderful environment for the players. People loved to get back to the atmosphere. They have done a really great job. That is never going to change. The day it does, I'll stop playing cricket. Even before I became captain, I have always loved to contribute in some way or the other. Surya didn't get much game time in this World Cup, so I thought it will be a nice memory to take back. That was the idea," he signed off.