The commitment to the team's cause gleamed in his eyes. Rohit Sharma knew he was up against a stiff challenge – 21 runs off the final over is an never easy challenge – but he knew that his team Deccan Chargers needed to clinch the two points from Kolkata Knight Riders and accomplished that in stunning style on Saturday.
It looked like a lost cause in two overs after Andrew Symonds was run out at the start of the 18th over with 33 of the 161-run target needed. For, Mashrafe Mortaza – playing his first IPL game – and Ajit Agarkar did not give away any boundaries to Rohit Sharma and the new man Venugopal Rao. In fact, Mortaza gave away seven runs and Agarkar six.
Deccan Chargers needed a whopping 21 runs to win in the final over. Kolkata Knight Riders chose Mortaza for the task - and did not have time to regret it. A powerful pull for four off the first ball, declared a no-ball as there were just three fielders in the 30-yard circle, infused hope in the Deccan Chargers ranks.
Their hearts sank when Rohit was able to pinch a leg bye off the next delivery. Venugopal Rao was lucky that an edge flew to third man and he was able to give the strike back to Rohit Sharma. Deccan Chargers needed 15 off four deliveries and there was none better than the vice-captain to be on strike.
A juicy full toss followed and Rohit Sharma sent it over 115 metres for a six that, for the first time, instilled some doubt in the minds of Kolkata Knight Riders. Nine needed off the final three balls with Rohit Sharma, batting like a man possessed, in charge. Nerves showed on the field as Mortaza bowled a wide.
Eight needed of three balls and Rohit Sharma drove Mortaza to long-on, imploring Venugopal Rao to sprint two runs. Six needed off two deliveries and Rohit Sharma slammed a four through covers – teasing the fielder on the fence. One off the final ball and Motaza must have felt the loneliest man at the Bull Ring.
The Bangladesh all-rounder dug a short ball in and Rohit Sharma sent it soaring into orbit for a six. He scored 26 runs in the final over, the most expensive in IPL history and inflicted figures of 4-0-58-0, the worst in IPL history. Long before the ball disappeared in the stands, the Deccan Chargers camp erupted in wild celebration.
The drama of the final over obliterated all that happened in the 39 overs that preceded it. And there was a lot that happened - including a stunning assault by David Hussey who made 43 off just 17 balls, a super 48 by Brad Hodge, RP Singh being removed from the attack for bowling two successive waist-high full-tosses, a typical 43 off 31 balls by Adam Gilchrist when Deccan Chargers chased 161 for a win - not to speak of a breathtaking spell of four overs by Murali Kartik who returned with figures of one for 12.
The two points Deccan Chargers wrung out of the game saw them climb to third place with 14 points from 12 games behind Delhi Daredevils (16 points, 11 games) and Chennai Super Kings (15 points, 12 games). Deccan Chargers need to win against Kings XI Punjab or Royal Challengers Bangalore to make it to the last four on their own steam.
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