Rohit Sharma is confident of hosts India bouncing back from Friday’s defeat against South Africa with a better display in the three-match Twenty20 International series.
India lost the opening game of a two-month long series, that also features five one-dayers, and four Tests, by seven wickets despite Sharma’s 66-ball 106.
It was Sharma’s first century in T20Is and although he was delighted with his display at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, the outcome of the game left him disappointed. Sharma expects a strong reply by his team in the remaining two games in Cuttack on Monday and Kolkata on Thursday.
“It is always important to start a series well. I did have that in my mind when I went out to bat. My focus was on getting some runs in the very first game since it sets the tone for the rest of the series.
“I feel it is a good start. Obviously disappointed with the loss but we have to regroup as soon as we can and come back really strong.
“Any hundred you get for your country in any format it is always special and I will cherish this. Unfortunately it didn’t come in a winning cause. It doesn’t matter how many runs you score. You are not happy if your team doesn’t win at the end of the day.
“But personally, I felt good batting out there,“ Sharma told bcci.tv.
While Sharma and India were left ruing a lost opportunity, the South Africans were aiming to cash in on the gains of a winning start. Jean-Paul Duminy, who powered the tourists victory by smashing seven sixes in his 34-ball 68 not out, feels the way his team counter-attacked after Sharma’s brilliant knock was encouraging.
“We know we have the batting ability to chase any total. Over the last few days, we spoke a lot about competing on this tour,” Duminy said. “No matter what was thrown at us, we wanted to make sure we counter punch.
“Yes, Rohit played an exceptional innings but I thought the way we fought back was good,” he added.
