India clinched a hat-trick of clean sweep with a six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the final T20I of the three-match series on Sunday (February 27). India registered their 12th consecutive T20I victory and fourth clean sweep under Rohit's regime. Rohit Sharma knows that Indian team was a bit conservative in their approach towards T20 cricket for some time but he expects that philosophy to undergo change as the youngsters have been told not to worry about odd failure.
The cornerstone of Rohit's captaincy has been security for the players and it's paying dividends with three back-to-back T20I series wins since he took over post T20 World Cup.
"We do understand at times that we've held back but it's important to tell the guys that you don't have to worry about your positions in the team. We want to fill whatever gaps we do have. We just want to move forward," Rohit said at the presentation ceremony after India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third T20I to sweep the series 3-0.
Rohit understands that picking an XI based on so many good performances is a different challenge altogether.
"It's going to be a big challenge but it's nice to have guys in form rather than not in form. It's a factor of everything that comes together. We played together and we played very well. A lot of positives from this series." He was happy to give playing time to almost all the players during the last nine white ball matches, six T20Is and three ODIs.
"That is something we've kept in mind - good to give opportunities to few of those guys. If the guys take the opportunity the way some of these guys have taken, you can move from strength to strength." Iyer satisfied with form
Shreyas Iyer, who has scored 200-plus runs in the series, termed all his fifties special but the second one in big chase as extra special.
"Obviously, all three fifties were special for me. Yesterday, winning the series...so yeah the last one (2nd T20I)," Shreyas said.
For him, it just takes one ball to get into form.
"To be honest, you require just one ball to get in form. I'm really happy with whatever opportunities I got this series.
"To be honest, the wicket was a bit two-paced today and I was playing on merit and trying to punish the loose balls. You just have to back your instincts and be positive." Shreyas, who had a surgery last year, is now back at his best, having already made his Test debut.
"It has been a roller-coaster journey for me from injury. To come out of injury and perform at this level is really heartening for me," he added.
India rode on Shreyas Iyer's third consecutive half-centurion knock to sink Sri Lanka as they went on to clinch a hat-trick of series sweep in the shortest format. Shreyas remained unbeaten in the three-match series as he pummeled a rollicking 73 to leave Sri Lankan bowlers in all sorts of bother.
Chasing a target of 147, India got off to a scrappy start as skipper Rohit Sharma (5) again succumbed to Dushmantha Chameera when the scoreboard read 6/1. Opener Sanju Samson then paired with Shreyas Iyer to steady India's boat to steer their side to 51/1.
But soon after that Chamika Karunaratne gave India their second jolt in the form of Samson who was dismissed for 18 off 12. However, Shreyas was in a different mood as he started belting Sri Lankan bowlers left, right and centre to anchor India's innings. He played a phenomenal unbeaten knock of 73 off 45 in which he blasted nine fours and one big one. Shreyas struck his third consecutive half century of the series. He was later joined by Ravindra Jadeja , who once again played a perfect support with 22 not out from 15 balls as the duo stitched together an unbroken stand of 45 runs to give India a 3-0 sweep, chasing down the target in 16.5 overs.
