The ‘Sixth Bowler’ experiment: Rohit Sharma reveals reason behind using 9 bowlers against Netherlands
Despite Hardik's absence, India has continued to perform exceptionally well in the tournament.
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Nov 13, 2023 3:00 pm
In the lead-up to the ODI World Cup 2023 knockouts, Team India finds itself facing a unique challenge: the absence of their star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, due to injury. Pandya’s unavailability has reduced India’s bowling options to just five key bowlers, which has prompted the team to explore choices for the crucial stages of the tournament.
Despite Hardik’s absence, India has continued to perform exceptionally well in the tournament. The standout among the fast bowlers has been Md Shami, who has garnered attention for his remarkable seam bowling and ability to pick up quick wickets. However, the team, particularly Captain Rohit Sharma, recognizes the importance of having an additional option for quick overs in the middle during the knockout matches.
India has been in a commanding position throughout the league games, securing the number one spot well before their victory over the Netherlands. With the Dutch team not posing a significant threat, Rohit Sharma decided to experiment with the concept of a sixth bowler should the need arise.
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Rohit Sharma’s first choice for the sixth bowler was none other than Virat Kohli, the team’s star batsman. Kohli had previously bowled three balls to complete the injured Hardik Pandya’s over against Bangladesh. Since that moment, Indian crowds at the stadiums have been eagerly anticipating the sight of India’s number 3 rolling his arm over and contributing a few overs.
Virat Kohli rose to the challenge, proving to be an economical option with the ball. In his three overs, he conceded a mere 13 runs and even claimed the wicket of the Dutch captain, Scott Edwards.
Rohit Sharma employed a clever strategy to control the run flow, consistently pairing a fast pacer like Bumrah, Shami, or Siraj with the part-time bowlers.
Next in line was Shubman Gill, who bowled his off-spin, delivering two overs and conceding 11 runs. Following Gill, Surya Kumar Yadav, with his right-arm off-break, took the ball. Surya Kumar Yadav, with 36 wickets in his domestic career, faced a challenge, conceding two sixes in his second over and a total of 17 runs in his two-over spell.
Rohit Sharma, leading by example, also decided to roll his arm over when the Netherlands were down to their last wicket. In a remarkable moment, Rohit conceded a six to Teja Nidamanuru, the in-form Dutch batsman and the highest scorer for the Netherlands. However, Rohit bounced back, dismissing Nidamanuru with a cleverly delivered ball, sealing the Dutch innings.
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When questioned about the decision to explore different bowling options, Rohit Sharma explained, “It is something that is always in our mind. We want to create those options in the team; today we had nine options. This was the game where we could have tried certain things. The seamers were bowling those wide yorkers, which was not needed, but they did.”
India’s experimentation with a sixth bowler offers a glimpse into the team’s forward-thinking approach as they gear up for the crucial knockout phase of the ODI World Cup 2023.
