Picture Credit: BCCI
India defeated West Indies by 6-wickets on Wednesday in the 1st T20I at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Hosts performed exceptionally well in a match where the Rohit-led side completely outplayed visitors. While chasing 157, Rohit Sharma (40 off 19) and Ishan Kishan (35 off42) provided the much-needed foundation. The debutant Ravi Bishnoi emerged as a standout performer by clinching two crucial wickets.
Bishnoi was regarded as Player of the Match post-game for his standout performance. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma in a post-match conference hailed the team's effort to secure yet another victory and highlighted that his team could have finished the game bit early. Impressed with Bishnoi's performance, Sharma regarded the debutant as highly talented and had something different to deliver. However, Rohit Sharma didn't shy away from commenting on Shreyas Iyer, who missed out on playing XI.
"It's very hard on him not making it to playing eleven, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle, which is why we couldn't get him in", Rohit said after the game.
Rohit Sharma was also highly impressed with the competition within the dressing room. "It's always nice with that kind of competition going around, and a lot of the guys are missing out as well. I'm happy to have that kind of challenges rather than not having players available and not in-form", Rohit said.
Rohit Sharma also admitted that he is trying to boost Ishan Kishan's confidence to be ready for upcoming crucial games. "It's just about rotating strike in the middle, and with Ishan, it's just about getting some game time and wearing the blue and playing for India; there's too much pressure. It's our job to make sure that whenever he steps in, he's quite comfortable."
After winning the first T20I game, India will take on West Indies in the 2nd T20I at Eden Gardens on 18th February.
