During the Mount Maunganui T20I, team India got a big blow as the stand-in captain Rohit Sharma suffered a calf injury and walked off the field while he was set at the crease.
It is the fifth and final game of the five-match T20I series between the hosts New Zealand and the visitors India. After getting a rest in the previous T20I, Rohit Sharma returned to the national side for this game. In this game, he replaced the captain Virat Kohli, and Rohit is leading the national team.
After Rohit Sharma won the toss in this last T20I of this series, he decided to bat first. However, the team management maintained the previous opening partners as KL Rahul and Sanju Samson opened the innings. Once again, Samson (2) failed to impress and the skipper Rohit came to bat in the second over.
Rahul and Rohit handled that situation properly and provided the 88 runs partnership for the second wicket. While Rahul was dismissed on 45 runs, Rohit was busy to stretch his innings.
Rohit completed his half-century in 35 balls. In the 17th over of Indian innings, Rohit sustained calf injury when he was taking a single. Soon the team physio came on the field to check him as the stand-in captain was struggling hugely.
After some treatment, Rohit decided to bat and hit a sixer to the leg-spinner Ish Sodhi on the very next ball. But he failed to take runs in the next two balls as he was struggling with running. Finally, he decided to walk off the field, and Shivam Dube came to bat.
Rohit Sharma leaves the field with some sort of discomfort in his calf. Shivam Dube comes out to bat #NZvIND
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 2, 2020
This injury can be a big concern for the Indian team as they will now play the ODI series in this New Zealand tour. New Zealand and India will play the three-match ODI series from 5th February to 11th February. After this ODI series, they will also play the two-match Test series.
Latest update:
In the absence of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul is playing the stand-in captain role for India on the field. Meanwhile, Rohit will not take the field in the remainder of this match.
UPDATE – Rohit Sharma hasn't made his way to the field. KL Rahul is the stand-in Captain.#NZvIND
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 2, 2020
Rohit Sharma is being assessed at the moment and will not take the field today.#NZvIND https://t.co/31WWdj0JOS
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 2, 2020
Rohit Sharma scored 60 runs before retired hurt
Before getting retired hurt in this Bay Oval T20I, Rohit Sharma scored 60 runs off 41 balls with three fours and three sixes. It was his 25th 50+ score which is the most number of T20I 50+ scores for a batsman.
Also, Shreyas Iyer scored 33 not out off 31 balls as India managed the first innings total of 163/3 (20 overs). While Dube was dismissed on five runs, Manish Pandey remained not out on 11 runs (4 balls).