You learn a lot playing on tricky wickets: Rohit Sharma

TIL Desk Sports/India captain Rohit Sharma is happy that his team got to ‘learn a lot’ in their eight-wicket victory over South Africa in a low-scoring chase on a tricky pitch in the first T20 International in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 50 off 33 balls ensured that India didn’t face too many hiccups despite KL Rahul’s struggles on a two-paced pitch on which South Africa were left tottering at 9/5 at the start of the game.

“The wicket was tricky. You learn a lot playing such a game. You understand what the team needs to do in tough conditions. It was nice to play a game like that. We knew the bowlers will get something seeing grass on the pitch, but we didn’t expected help for the full 20 overs,” Rohit said after the match.

Rohit admitted that the pitch was a bit damp and that made South Africa stay in contest despite a paltry score of 106/8. “It was still damp. Both teams were in the contest and the team that played better won the game. We started well, got five wickets in quick time and that was the turning point. It was a perfect showcase of how to bowl when there is help for the pacers.”