Watch: India openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put on a display of attacking batting in the Super Fours game against Pakistan, stitching a 121-run opening partnership in less than 17 overs before rain suspended play in Colombo on September 10.
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Batting first after losing the toss, Rohit got India off to the perfect start, hitting Shaheen Shah Afridi for a six in the first over, for the first time in the latter’s ODI career.
Naseem Shah, Shaheen’s new ball partner, had the ball on a string at the other end as he troubled Rohit and Gill. However, Gill went on a rampage against Afridi, hitting him for six fours in the space of two overs.
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After playing and missing for the major part of Naseem’s opening spell, Rohit got into his groove towards the end of the powerplay and hit him for two fours in an over.
Gill, who was dropped in the eighth over as an outside edge flew through the slip cordon, reached his first fifty against Pakistan in the 13th over off just 37 deliveries.
Shadab Khan came into the attack in the 13th over, but Rohit treated him with disdain. He smashed Shadab for three sixes and two fours in the first five deliveries he faced off him and reached his fifty off 42 balls in the 15th over.
However, Shadab had the last laugh: he got Rohit to chip one to long off in the 17th over to break the 121-run opening partnership. It was the fourth century opening partnership between the pair in 11 ODI innings where they have batted together.
They currently have the highest opening partnership average in ODI cricket history among pairs that have opened 10 or more times – 96.60.
