India captain Rohit Sharma said the dominant 6-wicket win over West Indies in their 1000th ODI was not a perfect one but expressed delight at the way he was able to get going with the bat following a return from a hamstring injury. Rohit hit a 51-ball 60 as India gunned down a 177-run target with 6 wickets and 22 overs to spare in the first of a 3-match ODI series in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Rohit had not played competitive cricket since India’s home T20I series against New Zealand in November last year. He missed India’s tour of South Africa due to a hamstring injury. He was appointed the Test team’s vice-captain and the ODI side’s full-time captain in December but Rohit missed out on those opportunities as he was forced to recover at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
IND vs WI, 1st ODI: Highlights
However, Rohit, who opened the batting alongside Ishan Kishan on Sunday in the first ODI, hit a quickfire 60 to lay down a solid platform for the chase. Rohit looked at his fluent best as he tore into the new-ball attack of West Indies. Rohit hit 10 boundaries and a six as he did not run much but dealt in boundaries in his 6-wicket victory.
“I don’t believe in a perfect game. You cannot be perfect. We want to keep getting better. All in all a great effort from everyone. We ticked all boxes. Pretty happy with that. With that bat we could’ve finished with not so many wickets, that is one. Could also have created pressure on their lower order,” Rohit said.
“I’ve been off for a while, haven’t played for two months but I was back home hitting the balls. Knew there was a long season ahead. Had a good net session here. I was confident going into this game. Can take a lot of positives from this game,” he added.
ROHIT SENDS MESSAGE TO HIS TEAMMATES
Rohit’s return also meant India ended a 5-match losing streak in 2022. In what is being looked at as a new era for India in ODI cricket under his leadership, India have to work on their shortcomings in the road to the 2023 World Cup which will be played at home.
India’s flaws were exposed during the ODI series defeat in South Africa in January but Rohit said the team will keep striving to get better in every game they play in the road to the World Cup.
“We want to keep getting better as a team. The end goal is we should be able to achieve what the team wants. If the team requires us to do something different, have to do it. Don’t think we have to change a lot. All I ask from players is to keep challenging themselves,” he added.
India rode on Rohit’s 60 and a 7 wickets between Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar to hammer West Indies in the first ODI.
However, Kieron Pollard’s men will be looking to bounce back when the two sides meet in the 2nd ODI in Ahmedbad on Wednesday.