Rohit Sharma explains why he withdrew Dasun Shanaka run-out appeal

Rohit Sharma praised the Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka’s brilliant 108* knock after India won the opening ODI by 67 runs on January 10. He also explained the reason behind the decision to withdraw an run-out appeal against Shanaka when he was on 98.

While chasing 374, Sri Lanka were struggling at 206/8 but Shanaka’s memorable century helped the traveling team avoid a big defeat as they managed to score a respectable 306/8. The Indian team had a chance to run the Sri Lankan captain out in the last over and they did it too as Mohammed Shami, who was bowling the last over for India, dislodged the bails at the non-striker’s end.

However, Rohit had a chat wit Shami and later withdrew his appeal as Shanaka survived. After the match, Rohit said that he had no clue that Shami had ran Shanaka out. He also added that the way the Sri Lankan skipper batted was brilliant.

We cannot get him out like that: Rohit Sharma

“I had no idea Shami did that (run-out), he was batting on 98. The way he batted was brilliant, we cannot get him out like that. Not something that we thought off, hats off to him, he played really well,” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation.

After the run-out drama, Rohit missed an easy chance to run out Shanaka on very next delivery and instead cost India five overthrows. After getting on strike on the fifth delivery of the 50th over, Shanaka smashed a four to complete his second ODI fifty and finished the game with a huge six on the last ball.