Champions Trophy: Rohit masterclass sets India on course for third title

The stage was set for Rohit Sharma to fire on what could be his last innings in a major ICC tournament – and the ‘Hitman’ didn’t disappoint his fans in Dubai on Sunday. If there was the odd advice for him before the final to go for a cautious start so that the captain could bat deeper into their innings, Rohit defied it and set his own terms.

 The ICC Champions Trophy had been seeing him getting starts but not being able to build on them. The last year or so had seen Rohit flounder repeatedly across formats – despite having scored a century against England in the ODI series before this tournament but he was in pristine touch on Sunday.

 Just when it looked like he was in a position to convert it into another three-figure knock and make India’s third Champions Trophy a memorable one, a moment of impetuousity cost him the wicket at a blazing 76.

The job was not quite done as there were still 130 runs to get and Mitchell Santner & Co were making life difficult for the Indian batters on a slowing wicket, but Shreyas Iyer once again showed why he is being regarded as a pivot at number four in this format.

The likes of Axar Patel, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya ensured they kept their date with the second straight ICC crown after claiming the T20 World Cup last year.

 If Rohit was on song, the law of averages caught up with Virat Kohli after two superlative efforts in Dubai – an unbeaten century against Pakistan and a masterly 84 in the semi-finals against Australia. The chasemaster was struck on the pads by the tall offie Michael Bracewell and took a review when he was on one and he looked mighty disappointed at not being able to play his part in the final.

 A 252-run target at the Dubai International Stadium was still a competitive one – though it did not seem like one when Rohit and Shubman Gill were going great guns to race to 105 without losing a wicket.

 The Kiwis, despite being rocked by the Indian spinners, scrapped their way together to a 250-plus total. A 57-run stand for the fifth wicket between Daryll Mitchell and Glenn Phillips was certainly the key behind the Kiwis batting full 50 overs against a relentless onslaught from the Indian spin quartet. It was, however, Bracewell’s quickfire 53 which helped them reach

 The Indian catching, which stood at 71% before the final, were quite slipshod again this afternoon but the Kiwis failed to take advantage of it.