We knew batting under lights would be easier, says Rohit Sharma after India’s win

Dubai: Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, making one change as Imam-ul-Haq replaced Fakhar Zaman. India, however, fielded an unchanged squad. Pakistan struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for 241 runs, with skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan failing to make an impact. Despite a steady partnership between Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, India kept control of the game.

In response, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a quick start, but Sharma was dismissed after scoring 20 runs. Virat Kohli anchored the chase with a century against Pakistan, while Gill contributed 46 runs. Shreyas Iyer’s half-century further strengthened India’s innings as they comfortably secured a six-wicket victory.

Reflecting on the match, Rohit Sharma praised the team’s effort, saying, “The way we started with the ball was fantastic. We knew batting under lights would be easier, and we used our experience to score runs. Credit goes to players like Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja.”

“Rizwan and Shakeel had a strong partnership, so it was crucial not to let the game slip away. Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Shami, and Harshit bowled exceptionally well. Axar Patel and Kuldeep also played their part.”

On Kohli’s performance, Rohit added, “He loves representing the country. We’ve seen his commitment over the years, and no one in the dressing room is surprised. His hamstring is fine at the moment.”