Pragyan Ojha, former retired Indian spinner disagreed with the call of Man of Match as he wanted Rohit Sharma to receive the award for his knock of 161 runs in the 1st innings of the 2nd Test as it turned the match in India’s favour on Day 1.
There were some great performances during the second Test match in Chennai against England as India won by a mammoth 317 runs to level the 4 match Test series 1-1.
Pragyan Ojha: Rohit Sharma Who Hit 161 In First Innings Did Score Ton In Pitch Offering Favour To Bowlers And Should Have Been Awarded, MOM
The first day belonged to Rohit Sharma, who hit a well-crafted 161 on a difficult batting track aiding spinners at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The second and third days belonged to Ravichandran Ashwin as he picked up a five-wicket haul and scored a century for his side. On Day 4-the penultimate day, debutant Axar Patel turned on the heat as he picked up five wickets in an innings on his Test debut to ensure the play don’t go to 5 days.
“It was Rohit Sharma for me. It is not because of anything but the way the game was poised. If you look at first innings was very important and everybody this wicket is gonna favour the bowler more than the batsmen and it deteriorated. Everybody will question saying that Ashwin got a brilliant hundred. Yes, he got a brilliant hundred but you have to look at it,” Pragyan Ojha told Sports Today.
There were several candidates who could have received the man of the match award for their display in the second Test. However, Ravichandran Ashwin received the award for his brilliant all-around display on his home ground. There aren’t many critics who will disagree with the decision to give all-round spinner Ravichandran Ashwin the MoM award.
Pragyan Ojha: Rohit Sharma’s Ton Set The Tone As He Made Sure India Take A Well Enough Lead In 1st Innings Itself
In the 2nd Test, India was reeling at 86/3 before the invaluable stand between Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane and contribution from Rishabh Pant saw India finish at 329. England was skitted for 134 and 164 as India won 2nd Test by 317 runs after having made 286 in 2nd innings with MOM Ravichandran Ashwin scoring 106.
“Does that hundred add up to India’s win or loss? No, it doesn’t because, by the time he got the hundred, India was far ahead. Ashwin applied himself, the way he played. Not taking any credit for him but the most important thing is that hundred from Rohit Sharma, that set the tone for the Test match.
“Imagine he got a 60 and see the scorecard and see what that second innings would have been. That would have been that much important but in the first innings, he made sure that the second innings is totally out of the picture. because they had that kind of lead,” Pragyan Ojha added.
The focus will now shift to the third Test that will be played with the Pink Ball in Ahmadabad. England continued with their rotation policy resting key players as spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali has been rested while the duo of Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood, both of whom were unavailable for the first two Tests in Chennai, has made a return to the squad for 3rd Test.
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