India National Cricket Team captain Rohit Sharma showered praise on opener Shubman Gill and all-rounder Axar Patel following India’s defeat to the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the 6th match of the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage on Friday, September 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.
India faced a narrow 6-run defeat as they attempted to chase down Bangladesh’s target of 266 but were eventually bowled out for 259. With this victory, the Bangla Tigers secured their third win against India in their last four encounters.
Speaking after the match, Rohit Sharma explained that they made five changes to the playing XI with the intention of providing valuable game time to players who are likely to feature in the World Cup. He also commended Axar Patel for his remarkable 42-run innings, which kept Indian fans’ hopes alive. Rohit Sharma stated:
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Rohit Sharma went on to praise Shubman Gill for his exceptional 121-run innings, highlighting the youngster’s clear and determined thought process. “Gill’s century was outstanding. He believes in his game and knows precisely how he wants to contribute. He has a clear understanding of his role within the team. If you look at his form over the past year, it’s been remarkable. He has shown great consistency against the new ball and works exceptionally hard. There’s no ‘optional practice’ for Gill.”
The key players like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj are expected to return to the playing XI when India faces Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final on Sunday in Colombo. If India emerges victorious in this Asia Cup, they will be heavily boosted ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup.