India captain Rohit Sharma did not hold back his frustration when young pacer Harshit Rana’s reckless throw gifted England four extra runs in the second ODI in Cuttack. The moment unfolded in the 32nd over when Rana, in an unnecessary display of aggression, hurled the ball towards the stumps despite England skipper Jos Buttler being well inside his crease. The throw not only missed the stumps and wicketkeeper KL Rahul but also raced to the boundary, much to the dismay of the Indian team.
Rohit, visibly enraged, made animated gestures before reprimanding the youngster with a sharp “Dimaag kidhar hai tera?” (Where is your brain?). The fiery exchange quickly went viral on social media, sparking discussions among fans and experts alike.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann, on commentary at the time, remarked that Harshit Rana’s aggression had gotten the better of him. “If there is one way to upset your captain, this is it. Just stay calm. He’s an old-school fast bowler, but his emotions took over, costing India four unnecessary runs,” Swann observed.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing how such lapses could ease the pressure on the opposition. “I could see the captain was livid. It’s little things like this that can shift momentum,” Shastri noted.
Despite the blunder, England posted a competitive total of 304 after opting to bat. Joe Root anchored the innings with a well-crafted 69 off 72 balls, supported by Ben Duckett’s fluent 65. Later, Liam Livingstone’s quickfire 41 off 32 deliveries provided the final flourish.
For India, Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3/35. Mohammed Shami, Rana, Hardik Pandya, and debutant Varun Chakravarthy each contributed with a wicket.
With India leading the series 1-0 after their victory in Nagpur, they will be eager to capitalize on this opportunity. Seal the series, but as Rohit’s reaction showed, they cannot afford such lapses if they want to stay in control.
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