‘Thoda dheere dal,’ said Rohit; spinners changed the game

Rohit Sharma (PC: BCCI)

Some of Rohit Sharma’s stump-mic chatter is part of Indian cricket folklore. Most of the time, it is funny, sometimes even uncensored. Tactical advice is delivered in typical Mumbai-maidan style.

Remember his berating of his team-mates during a Test against England in Vizag: “Koi garden mein nahi ghoomega”? Then there was the way he admonished Sarfaraz Khan during a home Test against New Zealand, when the youngster went to field close-in without wearing a helmet: “Hero mat ban.”

On Sunday, during the first ODI against the West Indies, it was different. It was the voice of a leader, passing instructions to a bowler. Rohit is no longer India’s captain, but his leadership qualities remain undiminished.

The West Indies got off to a rollicking start and raced to 62 without loss after eight overs, when Shubman Gill, the skipper, decided to introduce spin. John Campbell, however, took the attack to Ravindra Jadeja from the outset, hitting a four and a couple of sixes in his first over. The senior all-rounder, back in the ODI fold after a lengthy gap, looked a little short of confidence. He was also bowling with a newish ball, inside the first powerplay.

When Jadeja came on to bowl his second over, Rohit chipped in from his position at first slip. The stump mic was active and the former captain was heard saying: “Thoda dheere dal, tez daalega toh accha aa raha hai bat pe. Tez dala hua ball accha aa raha hai bat pe (bowl a tad slower, the faster deliveries are coming nicely onto the bat).”

For Jadeja, that was enough. He started bowling slower and conceded only four runs in his second over. The message was quickly passed on to Kuldeep Yadav, who was brought into the attack in the 16th over. The left-arm wrist-spinner spun a web around the Caribbeans, returning with 4/40 from 10 overs.

He bowled in the mid-80s kph and started teasing the batsmen in the air. Jadeja, too, contributed to the spin choke in the middle overs. From 135 without loss in the 20th over, the tourists slipped to 198/5 in the 36th. Despite a late-order surge, they failed to get past 300.

Kuldeep’s efforts earned him the Player of the Match award, a much-needed return to form. Speaking to the host broadcaster at the post-match presentation, he emphasised the importance of rhythm.

“I still believe there’s a lot to improve as a spinner, I believe in rhythm,” he said. “It’s all about your bowling flow. When you are in flow, everything looks so good. I’m going to stick with the same rhythm, that’s the most important thing. Any format I play, you have to feel very comfortable in your rhythm.”

Yes, Kuldeep bowled in a good rhythm yesterday. But his bowling speed seriously contributed to that four-for. A Ravi Shastri quote came to mind: “You can’t buy experience in a supermarket.”

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