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In the Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2023, the cricketing world witnessed Indian captain Rohit Sharma's masterclass against arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo on September 10, Sunday. The Premadasa stadium echoed with cheers as the hitmat Rohit displayed impeccable batting skill, ruthlessly taking the Pakistani bowlers to cleaners and giving India a power-packed start.
Starting cautiously, Sharma seemed to respect the movement the ball was getting early on. Yet, once he found his rhythm, there was no looking back. He took no time to change the gear and started banging Pakistani bowlers left, right and centre. The transformation was evident as he transitioned from a watchful stance to a completely aggressive one, leaving spectators and viewers in awe of his prowess.
A significant aspect of his innings was his fierce onslaught on Pakistani leg-spinner Shadab Khan. Khan, usually known for his tight lines and consistent lengths, found himself in a state of bother as Sharma played him with sheer confidence. Every delivery Khan pitched, Sharma had an answer, often dispatching the ball across the boundary.
However the game witnessed an interesting twist in the 17th over which saw Shadab making a stunning comeback. Shadab, despite being under immense pressure after getting slogged for three sixes and two fours in his previous two overs, found a way to bring an end to Sharma's whirlwind innings. Using flight to his advantage, Shadab tempted Sharma into a chip shot over the cover. It was this delivery that resulted in a marvelous fielding effort, showcasing the importance of agility and anticipation in the modern game. Faheem Ashraf, standing at long off, exhibited incredible athleticism as he sprinted to his left, plucking the ball out of thin air to complete an astonishing catch.
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Until his dismissal, Rohit Sharma appeared invincible against Khan, launching three sixes and striking two boundaries off his deliveries alone. His partnership with opening batsman Shubman Gill further solidified India's position, amassing a commendable 121 runs for the first wicket.
By the time he returned to the pavilion, Sharma had tallied 56 runs from just 49 deliveries, including six magnificent boundaries and four towering sixes. This scintillating innings marked Sharma's 50th ODI half-century, further cementing his place as one of the modern greats of the game.
Shubman (58 off 52) too returned to pavilion in the next over as he fell prey to Shaheen Afridi's slower delivery. However, due to downpour the match was halted and at the rain interruption, the game's momentum hung in the balance, with India at 147/2 and batting stalwarts Virat Kohli (8 off 16) and KL Rahul (17 off 28) on the pitch at the end of 24.1 overs.
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