Hayden Praises Rohit's 'Measured' Performance Against SRH
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Synopsis
Matthew Hayden commended Rohit Sharma for his 'well-measured' 70-run innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad, emphasizing qualities of vision, stability, and timing. Despite SRH's struggles, Rohit's performance led Mumbai Indians to a confident victory.
Key Takeaways
- Rohit Sharma scored 70 runs off 46 balls.
- He became the second Indian to reach 12,000 T20 runs.
- Rohit surpassed Kieron Pollard for most sixes in MI history.
- SRH's batting struggles stem from lack of confidence.
- Need for SRH to refocus on their game strategy.
Hyderabad, April 24 (NationPress) Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden praised Rohit Sharma's 'well-measured' innings of 70 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, highlighting that the opener's performance embodied 'vision, stability, and perfect timing.'
After limiting SRH to 143/8, MI faced no significant obstacles in their chase, as Rohit steered his team to a second consecutive victory with a score of 70 (46), securing the win with 4.2 overs remaining and elevating them to third place in the standings.
With his impressive 70 runs off just 46 balls, Rohit became the second Indian, following Virat Kohli, to achieve 12,000 runs in T20Is. He also surpassed batting coach Kieron Pollard for the most sixes in Mumbai Indians history, now boasting 260 sixes, two more than Pollard.
“It was an exceptional, well-measured innings. There was power, but more importantly, it was about his tempo. He understood he had a manageable total to chase. Observing the seven-wicket victory, Mumbai Indians had plenty left in the tank. This was a comprehensive and assured win, something Sunrisers Hyderabad clearly lacked. Rohit’s innings showcased vision, stability, and perfect timing, propelling the rest of the team forward,” Hayden commented on JioHotstar.
Batting first, SRH found themselves five wickets down for just 35 runs early on. However, a remarkable performance from Heinrich Klaasen (71) and a solid partnership with Abhinav Manohar (43) turned the tide. Klaasen launched an aggressive 15-run over against Vignesh Puthur and reached his fifty in just 34 balls. SRH managed to reach 100 in the 17th over, concluding their innings with a strong flourish, finishing at 143/8.
Hayden also shared insights on SRH's struggles, stating, “The simplest explanation is a lack of confidence. When a team loses as SRH has, bouncing back is challenging. They were once seen as benchmark batters, but they are currently far from that. This has created issues in their middle order. It boils down to regaining confidence—not just in the top order but throughout the team.”
“They need to avoid overthinking and concentrate on their own game. Right now, SRH is chasing this tournament, searching for combinations, and even trying to rediscover the strength that used to characterize their powerful batting lineup,” he concluded.
