Need to work on middle, back-end overs with the ball, admits Rohit Sharma

TIL Desk Sports/ India skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that his bowlers need to work on their bowling in the middle as well as in the back-end overs after losing the series to Bangladesh through a five-wicket loss in the second ODI. For the second time in as many matches, India’s bowlers allowed Bangladesh’s batting order to recover and get over the line. On Sunday, last-wicket pair of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman took advantage of India’s sloppiness in the last six overs to give Bangladesh a win in the first ODI.

On Wednesday, the visitors’ squandered the advantage of reducing the hosts’ to 69/6 by allowing Mehidy to hit an unbeaten 83-ball century, and him stitching a 148-run stand with Mahmudullah (77) in a stunning recovery for Bangladesh to make 271/6. India’s bowlers conceded 68 runs in the last five overs, while in the last 10 overs they leaked a whopping 102 runs.

“I think when you lose a game, there are positives and negatives. From 70 for 6 (69/6) to allowing them to 270-odd (271/7) was not a great effort from the bowlers. The middle overs and back-end are hurting us (with the ball) – it hurt us in the first game as well. It’s something we need to work on,” said Rohit in the post-match presentation ceremony.