‘I doff my cap to you’: Rohit Sharma hailed for his sportsmanship | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India’s 67-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Guwahati on Tuesday will not only be remembered for the stupendous batting performances by the hosts, but it is skipper Rohit Sharma’s sportsmanship that earned praise from all quarters.
Rohit exhibited one of the best examples of sportsmanship in the game of cricket in the recent past. The incident happened in the last over of the match when pacer Mohammed Shami ‘Mankaded’ rival skipper Dasun Shanaka, who was unbeaten on 98, at the non-striker’s end.
But to everyone’s disbelief, Rohit decided to withdraw the appeal that paved the way for Shanaka to complete his second ODI ton.
“I had no idea Shami did that (run-out), he (Shanaka) was batting on 98. The way he batted was brilliant, we cannot get him out like that. Not something that we thought of, hats off to him, he played really well,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Rohit’s brilliant conduct on the field was praised by former Sri Lankan players Angelo Mathews and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Taking to Twitter, Mathews wrote “Not many captains would do this but hats off to ?@ImRo45? for withdrawing the appeal even though the law says so! Displaying great sportsmanship.”

“The real winner was the sportsmanship of Rohit Sharma for refusing to take the run out. I doff my cap to you !” Jayasuriya tweeted.

On the match front, riding on Virat Kohli’s 73rd international hundred and half-centuries from Rohit and Shubman Gill, India posted an imposing 373 for seven after being asked to bat first.
In response, Sri Lanka were never in the hunt after losing half their side for 161, but Shanaka (108 not out off 88 balls) stood tall amid the ruins with his fighting knock and took his side to 306/8.