Dravid hails Rohit’s decision to take himself out in super over: “Ashwin-level thinking”

In the third Twenty20 International against Afghanistan, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid praised captain Rohit Sharma’s choice to remove himself in the opening super over. Afghanistan pulled a surprise by matching India’s massive total of 212 and sent the game into extra time. The visitors batted first and scored 16 runs; with one ball remaining, Rohit walked back and called Rinku Singh to the crease, bringing the score to even before India tied it. “It was thinking on par with Ashwin to take himself out. That’s thinking on par with Ash,” Dravid remarked, citing ESPNcricinfo.

However, Rohit’s choice raised the question of whether he had retired hurt or out of the first super over. After the Indian captain went out to bat in the second super over, this query became the buzz of the town. In men’s T20Is, the playing conditions set down by the ICC state that “[a]ny batsman dismissed in any previous Super Over shall be ineligible to bat in any subsequent Super Over.” The umpires have not yet made it clear if Rohit retired hurt or retired out, according to ESPNcricinfo. The batsman is considered “retired not out” and is allowed to bat again if Rohit retired injured. Dravid praised Rohit’s choice, but Jonathan Trott, the Afghanistan coach, didn’t know if Rohit had retired hurt or not.

“I’m not sure. Has a Super Over ever consisted of two? That’s my main point here. It’s similar to a new system in which we continuously establishing new regulations. In the news conference following the game, Trott stated, “We kept testing the rules and the guidelines. That is what I am trying to say.” In the end, India scored 212/4 because to late fireworks from Rinku Singh (69) and hard-hitting strokes from Rohit (121). With a 93-run opening stand in response, Gurbaz (50 in 32 balls, three fours, and four sixes) and Zadran (50 in 41 balls, four boundaries, and a six) gave Afghanistan a great start.

Then, Mohammed Nabi (34 in 16 balls, with two fours and three sixes) and Naib (55* in 23 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) combined to help Afghanistan draw the game. Both teams scored 16 runs apiece to tie the first Super Over. Despite Rohit’s two-for-six in the second super over, India lost both of their wickets with one ball remaining, leaving Afghanistan with a 12-run deficit. However, with just one run scored, Ravi Bishnoi’s Super Over claimed Nabi and Gurbaz in the first three balls. India won the series 3-0 after completing their sweeping victory.