IPL 2021: Rohit Sharma smashes a one-handed six off Ravichandran Ashwin in DC vs MI game

The 2020 finalists are battling out at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in the 13th league fixture of the Indian Premier League. Winning the toss, the Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bat, suggesting that the surface is much drier than the previous occasions. Batting first has been the way out at the venue, with as many as six games out of seven going in the defending team’s favor.

Started the proceedings, Rohit did not get off the mark in the most convincing style as he got a boundary off Marcus Stoinis, lacking control, but the runs were sufficient for him to get going. Mumbai lost their other opener, Quinton de Kock, cheaply in the same over as he edged Stoinis behind.

Although, Rohit took on Ravichandran Ashwin in the next over as he swept him for a boundary. The most eye-catching stroke in his 44-run knock came a couple of deliveries later when the right-hander lofted Ashwin for a one-handed six over extra cover.

He shuffled slightly, taking his back foot across as he made room and much to his liking, Ashwin delivered exactly in the slot as Rohit sweetly dispatched him for a six. His hand came off as he connected, but the timing and power behind the stroke were just enough to send it for a distance.

one handed six by rohit sharma. wow 😍!! pic.twitter.com/mKdBSULrwk

— vardhan. (@putitdownx) April 20, 2021

Mumbai, Delhi make changes in the eleven

Ahead of the game, both the teams made changes in their eleven as MI brought in spinner Jayant Yadav in place of New Zealand pacer, Adam Milne, keeping the spin-conducive conditions in mind, whereas the Capitals included middle-order batsman Shimron Hetmyer and leg-spinner, Amit Mishra, at the expense of pacers Lukman Meriwala and Chris Woakes.

Both the teams have won two of their games so far, although the Capitals sit a spot above the Indians due to their superior net run rate. After starting the tournament with a 2-wicket loss against RCB, MI managed to defeat KKR and SRH, respectively. On the other hand, DC sandwiched a loss against RR between two wins against CSK and PBKS.