India head coach Gautam Gambhir was overjoyed after his team thwarted Australia's chances of completing their maiden series whitewash over them in the third one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground last Saturday.
Gambhir praised mainstays Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their unbroken 168-run partnership, as well as seamer Harshit Rana's spell with the ball to set up India's chase.
Harshit Rana's 4/39 helped India bowl Australia out for 236 runs, despite Matt Renshaw's 56. In response, India lost Shubman Gill for 24, following a 69-run opening stand, but Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli contributed 168* runs to help India over the finish line.
Virat Kohli made 74* with 7 fours, and Rohit Sharma hit his 33rd century in ODIs, finishing on 121* with 13 fours and 3 sixes.
In a dressing room video released on social media by the BCCI, Gambhir praised Rohit and Kohli for their maturity in handling the chase. Adrian Le Roux, the team's S&C coach, awarded Rohit the 'Impact Player of the Match' medal in the changing room.
“With the bat, I thought the partnership between Shubman and Rohit was very, very important, where we were 60 for no loss. And then, the partnership between Rohit and Virat was again outstanding, very clinical as well. And a special mention to Rohit, another hundred, outstanding. The most important thing was that you finished it off, and Virat as well,” said Gambhir in the BCCI video.
Gambhir was also full of praise for pacer Rana, who took a crucial four-wicket haul, despite mounting criticism from fans on social media and several former cricketers about his consistent selection across formats.
“I thought we did everything; we ticked all the boxes. Especially, to start with, I thought the bowlers were outstanding. The kind of start Australia had, 63 for no loss after 10 overs, and from there to restricting them to 237 was an outstanding effort. And a special mention to Harshit. Harshit, that was an outstanding spell,” remarked Gambhir.
Here is the video:
