Our plan against Rohit Sharma and Prithvi Shaw worked, reveals Mehdi Hasan

The Mumbai cricket team is a domestic heavyweight for a reason, many players in the team like their openers Rohit Sharma and Prithvi Shaw have already tasted success at the International level. In the rail-curtailed semi-final match of Vijay Hazare Trophy, Mumbai thoroughly defeated Hyderabad and even though Hyderabad lost the match the pick of the bowlers for Hyderabad seemed satisfied that his and skipper Ambati Rayudu’s ploy against Mumbai openers worked on the given day.

"I had some plans in my mind. These batsmen (Prithvi Shaw and Rohit Sharma) are very talented. They are excellent batsmen on the off side. I knew that there were couple of deliveries I shouldn't be bowling to them. I had discussed the plans with my captain Ambati Rayudu against these two," Mehdi Hasan told Timesofindia.com.

Rohit Sharma is the only cricketer to have scored three double centuries in ODI cricket which amply proves how dangerous a batsman he can be on a given day. Hasan seemed to concur with the thought process.

"I wanted to dismiss him (Rohit) early. He is a batsman who can bat through the day with a strike-rate. I came on to bowl in the ninth over. I was charged up for this big game. Rayudu bhai came and asked to me bowl. I discussed the plan with Rayudu bhai and it worked well against Rohit," Hasan added.

Hasan also commended the shrewd cricketing brain his skipper Ambati Rayudu is. Rayudu is trying hard to make a permanent slot in the Indian middle order before the Indian probables for the Cricket World cup in England next year is announced.

"Rayudu has a tremendous cricketing brain. He can read things on the field and give tips to bowlers. We are lucky to have a captain like him. " the spinner said while explaining Rohit’s dismissal.

After his century on debut, Prithvi Shaw had received accolades all around and then he also proved that the first century was not a fluke by making more than hundred runs in the second match too. The youngster was praised by Hasan too.

"Shaw looks like Virender Sehwag when he bats. He is a fearless batsman. He has a long way to go. He will be known as a destructive batsman like Sehwag someday," Hasan signed off.