Rohit Sharma won praise for battling it out in tough conditions at the Adelaide Oval, even as Virat Kohli fell for a duck in the second ODI between India and Australia on Thursday.
On a pitch offering movement and bounce for the Australian pacers, Rohit held one end, providing India with a solid platform to post a challenging total after a slow start to the innings.
Rohit scored 73 off 97 deliveries, reaching his fifty in 74 balls – his slowest ODI fifty since 2015. However, caution was necessary on a pitch with some moisture, which assisted the Australian bowlers. After looking scratchy on his comeback to international cricket in the first ODI in Perth on Sunday, Rohit was far more cautious this time, giving himself sufficient time to negotiate the new ball.
Josh Hazlewood, who had dismissed the former captain in the first ODI, troubled Rohit once again by bowling tight lines and not giving him room to free his arms. Rohit was prepared to look ugly, playing out two maiden overs at the start, maintaining composure and not throwing his wicket away. Though he appeared rusty initially in Adelaide, he remained patient and determined.
By the end of the 15th over, Rohit had scored 26 off 56 deliveries, absorbing pressure after India lost Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli early. Gill had attempted to accelerate after Rohit struggled in the first five overs, only to throw his wicket away to Xavier Bartlett in the seventh over.
