Mount Maunganui (New Zealand) | Jagran Sports Desk: India on Sunday suffered a huge blow after stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma walked off field due to a calf-injury after scoring a fifty in the ongoing third T20I against New Zealand. Rohit got retired hurt on 60 off 41 balls. He suffered the injury in the 17th over of the game and needed attention from the physio. After consulting the physio, the stand-in Indian captain decided to walk off the field.
The 32-year-old is leading the side in place of skipper Virat Kohli. Now, in his absence KL Rahul will lead the side.
On Sunday, he batted at number three to make way for Sanju Samson at the top of the order. However, Samson (2) could not make use of the opportunity. However, Rohit's 60 off 41 balls helped the Men in Blue set a target of 164 runs against the Kiwis.
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Rohit Sharma, along with KL Rahul, provided the vital momentum to the Indian innings. The in-form duo dominated the Black Caps' attack and put on 50 off just 35 balls. Rahul hit four fours and two sixes in his 33-ball stay.
He fell in the 12th over against the run of play and finished with 224 runs in the series, the most for an Indian batsman in any bilateral T20I series.
Sharma scored his 25th T20I half-century off 35 balls. He looked to accelerate but then injured himself in the 17th over and retired.
The loss of both Rahul and Sharma impacted the Indian innings, and they lost all momentum on a slowing wicket. Shreyas Iyer smacked 33 off 31 balls, including a four and two sixes, but couldn't push the score past the 170-mark. Manish Pandey scored 11 not out off four balls, with a four and a six.
India have an unassailable 4-0 lead in the five-match series.