The biggest stage in the world is in Ahmedabad. The
event: India vs. Pakistan, one year after the two teams’ most dramatic World
Cup match. The setting is the beginning of round 28. Rohit Sharma is the
director. With the help of their two
finest batters, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have combined to score more
than 50 runs, Pakistan has reached 13 1/2. The outcome of this partnership will
have a delicate impact on this innings and perhaps even the game.
Only 11 runs have been scored in the final four overs,
which were split between the spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Against the two hitters, Rohit has had deep mid-wicket back and fine-leg up in
the ring. This message is really obvious. There are boundaries to be obtained,
but for Rizwan and Babar to obtain them, the spinners must be removed from
their pestering straight lines. There are a few tries, but neither batter gives
up. Not even the skilled sweeper Rizwan chose to forego the risk in order to
profit afterwards. They may have learned from Rohit’s techniques in the two
wickets that fell.
Abdullah Shafique was dismissed using a short ball
ruse, as Siraj would subsequently reveal. Rohit told the fine leg fielder to
get squarer immediately after getting Siraj to bowl a short delivery, maybe
planting the seeds for an encore. But as the batter approached the crease,
Siraj sprinted in and bowled a full nip-backer. Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed
shortly after cutting off a short ball from Hardik Pandya for four, and it’s
possible that a similarly tiny pitch adjustment contributed to that decision.
This time, Rohit showed Imam a sizable amount of grass that was available on
the drive by moving his sweeper cover to a deep point position. Following that,
a ball of more length invited the drive, and the edge made its way to the
custodian.
There may have been a temptation to continue playing
cat and mouse in this run-and-gun situation, but Rohit launches an attack after
some time spent defending. He makes the decision to stop the spin-over
sequence. However, it’s not the local bowler who he typically turns to for
breakthroughs who is coming back.
Now that the score at 155/2, one could be wondering if
Rohit finally made a mistake by bowling Siraj, who is still finding his rhythm
after paying a price for over-attacking in Delhi. The plot then takes a turn
that is not supported by any complex reasoning. Babar foolishly plays back to a
length ball on off-stump with an attempted dab. However, the scrambled-seam
delivery only hits the leather and topples off.
Now is the moment to hurry things along. Rizwan leaves
and is replaced by Jasprit Bumrah. The Pakistan vice-captain gets tricked by a
vicious off-cutter that soon brings back memories of deliveries he bowled to
Shaun Marsh at the MCG and Ollie Robinson at Lord’s. A ball that is
reverse-swinging defeats Shadab Khan on the other edge while also losing his
off-stump. After six overs, Pakistan is dismissed for 191 runs.
It has all been planned out by Rohit with a gorgeously
steely sense of purpose. Just a bit more needs to be done, so he must give up
his role as the puppeteer pulling the strings from a distance and take the centre
stage.
He starts off with Shaheen Afridi, flipping her for
four. The outcome is obvious as the grey sky grows gloomier and a yolky sun
sets behind the screeching noise. Rohit’s 50 comes off 36 deliveries, and those
pink pamphlets are now paper rockets that are launched in celebration
throughout the enormous area of the stands. Near the end of his 63-ball 86,
Rohit is simply using his own game sense and talent to anything Pakistan throws
at him rather than actively playing the pitch or the opposition.
It is the assurance of a man who is aware of his
calling and place on the team. like the director of a popular play who, at the
curtain call, stands with his head down and takes in the applause until the
curtain falls.