Rohit walked away from his crease, tricking Kuldeep into appealing aggressively.
After a deflecting sweep shot caught by KL Rahul in the ninth over of MI’s innings, Rohit pretended to walk, tricking Kuldeep into appealing aggressively.
Rohit’s antics also prompted DC skipper Axar Patel to take a review, which was wasted after replays showed the ball had come off the batter’s pads.
In the mid-innings break, Rohit admitted he walked away from his crease knowing that Kuldeep tends to take 50-50 DRS calls.
“I know Kuldeep pretty well, likes to take the DRS. So, yeah, I was just trying a little bit of luck there. But again, I got out pretty much in the next over. I couldn’t carry on. I wanted to take the game as deep as possible, but couldn’t do so. But yeah, a little bit of fun there with the guys out there. No, no, nothing like that. I was just trying to be, I was just trying to walk there. So, I know Kuldeep, he likes to take the DRS as soon as there is a 50-50 chances. So I was just trying my luck there. It turned out in our favor,” Rohit said.
Despite the clever play, Rohit could not capitalize, getting out to Axar in the next over for 35 off 26 balls.
“I got out in the next over. Wanted to bat deep, but couldn’t do so," he added.
MI posted a modest total of 162/6 on the board but Rohit suggested it’s more than good enough on a slow Delhi wicket.
“Pretty slow wicket. Gotta get in, bide your time and then play shots. We managed a decent score. Hope we can squeeze them in the first six, take wickets. Shot-making not easy, we have bowlers who can exploit that. Early wickets will give us control in the game, then the spinners can take on. Even with the new ball, there was something in it. Can’t hit through the line," he remarked.