Asia Cup | Rohit-Shikhar most destructive opening pair, says Sunil Gavaskar

09/23/2018

After some impressive displays in the Asia Cup, Sunil Gavaskar has labeled Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan as the most destructive opening pair in international cricket. Sharma has amassed 158 runs, while Dhawan scored a total of 213 runs which included a brilliant 127 against Hong Kong.

Stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma will certainly be a happy man as India continued their impressive all-round display in this year’s Asia Cup as they recorded their third consecutive wins in the tournament against Bangladesh. While the bowlers have done a stunning job across the length of the competition, the batsmen are certainly not far behind.

And former Indian Test cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, singled out the opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan as a major reason behind India’s dominance in the ongoing Asian showpiece. The duo have been in terrific form in the past few weeks, as Gavaskar termed them as the ‘most destructive opening pair’ in international cricket.

"India are on cruise control in the Asia Cup. Though they were stretched in the first game against unfancied Hong Kong, they upped their efforts and through their bowlers’ splendid efforts are now finding themselves with small targets to chase. There has been no respite for the opposition from India’s pacers, who have kept such a tight line and length that it’s been virtually impossible for the batsmen to break free. Then the spinners come on, while the batsmen get the odd big hit but get tempted for another one and are gone.

"He also has a point to prove for his omission from the Test team and is doing it in his own classy style. There are few better sights in cricket than Rohit Sharma in full flow. Along with Shikhar Dhawan they make the most exciting and destructive opening pair in the world. Both complement each other and take the pressure off each other. Rayudu is shaping up well at number three and at four India have rotated between Dinesh Karthik and Dhoni," Gavaskar wrote in his column for TOI.

The seasoned indian veteran also spoke about all-rounders Kedar Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja, who have stepped up their game in the absence of Hardik Pandya. Jadhav starred in the win against Pakistan while Jadeja impressed on his return to the ODI team after 427 days in the win against Bangladesh.

"Then there’s Kedar Jadhav, who with his various delivery points creates confusion as the batsmen try to line him up. To add to this attack there’s now Ravindra Jadeja, who has a point to prove to the selectors that he has what it takes to provide the team flexibility. The skipper Rohit Sharma has been canny enough to realise that on these surfaces the slower bowlers will be far more effective than the quicker ones and so has used them smartly," added Gavaskar.

Asia Cup | Rohit-Shikhar most destructive opening pair, says Sunil Gavaskar

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