IND vs AUS 3rd T20: After losing cool in 1st game, Rohit Sharma hands winner’s trophy to Dinesh Karthik, WATCH

Skipper Rohit Sharma had lost his cool against wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik in the first T20I loss against Australia in Mohali. The video of Rohit Sharma shouting at Karthik and even hilariously strangling him had gone viral on social media after the Mohali match.

Karthik, however, repaid his captain’s faith in him as a finisher – smashing a six and four in the second T20I to help India level the series.

And in the final T20I at Hyderabad on Sunday, Rohit kissed Karthik’s helmet after the runout of Glenn Maxwell. But the icing on the cake happened after India beat Australia in the final game to clinch the series 2-1. In a heart-warming gesture, Rohit handed the winning trophy to Karthik ahead of the team photo.

Here is the video of Rohit Sharma handing the T20I series winner’s trophy to Dinesh Karthik…

Winners Are Grinners! __ __

That moment when #TeamIndia Captain @ImRo45 received the #INDvAUS @mastercardindia T20I series trophy _ from the hands of Mr. @ThakurArunS, Treasurer, BCCI. _ _ pic.twitter.com/nr31xBrRBQ — BCCI (@BCCI) September 25, 2022

India skipper Rohit Sharma wants to give wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik more time in the middle before the team heads Down Under for the T20 World Cup 2022 next month. India have been alternating between Karthik and Rishabh Pant in their playing XI.

While the young keeper was given the nod ahead of the veteran player in the Asia Cup, Karthik was picked for all three matches against Australia. “I wanted both of these guys to have a number of games under their belt before the World Cup. When we went to the Asia Cup both of these guys were in the fray to play all games,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference after India clinched the three-match series against Australia on Sunday.

“But I just feel that Dinesh needs a little more game time. He hardly got to bat (this series). Just maybe three balls. So that’s not enough time,” Rohit added.

Karthik faced seven balls in total against Australia, while Pant played only one game where he did not get a chance to bat. “Pant also needs game time obviously. But looking at how this series was it was important for me to just stick to that consistent batting lineup.”

India take on South Africa for a three-match T20I series, starting on Wednesday (September 28) and Rohit said Karthik and Pant’s inclusion in the playing XI will depend upon the situation. “I don’t know what we’re going to do against South Africa. We just need to go and see their bowling, what sort of bowling lineup they’ll play with, and who are the best guys for us who can handle that bowling lineup. It all depends on that.

“We want to be flexible in our batting. So if the situation or if the thing demands that we need a left-hander, we will bring in a left-hander if we need a right-hander, we will continue to do that. But we'll try and manage those guys pretty carefully. I do understand that they need game time before the World Cup but there are only 11 players you can play, unfortunately.”

(with PTI inputs)