Just about everyone has spoken about ‘Rohit Sharma’s forced retirement’ talks, post the India-England Lord’s ODI. Yes, BCCI secretary has already clarified that the 39-year-old isn’t going anywhere, but the suspense still persists. What dispels the doubts is — Rohit and Gautam Gambhir were seen sharing a light moment at the Lord’s balcony. And now, finally the cricketer, perhaps unknowingly might have spoken about the entire situation.
Rohit Sharma speaks about retirement?
As per a recent video that is going viral, Rohit can be seen chatting with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, where he can be vaguely heard saying — that outside noise does not bother them. “Hum log ko bahar kya chal raha hai, us se humko kya (We have nothing to do with what is going on outside),” Rohit can be heard.
Of course, the conversation could be a bit out of context, but since his retirement topic is ongoing, it can only be attributed to this. Having said that, that doesn’t take away the fact that Rohit has been struggling in the ODIs, ever since he retired from Tests as well. This year in 8 ODIs, he has only scored 241 runs at an average of 30.12, getting only one fifty.
Sitanshu Kotak backs veteran
He did have two good games against Afghanistan — where he scored 79 and 48, but apart from that, it has been a struggle. But batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has thrown his weight behind the veteran. He has said, “I don’t think a player as big as Rohit can feel the pressure,” Kotak had said.
“He’s too good a player to feel that. Yes he hasn’t scored in two games. I don’t think that makes any difference. But today also it looked like he’ll get a good innings but that’s okay [that he didn’t get a big score].” He also backed Rohit to get a big on at Lord’s. “You might see [a] completely different innings from Rohit Sharma in Lord’s. I wouldn’t use the word struggling, but maybe the shots he normally plays on the up, which is because of the double bounce, probably he felt it was not comfortable.”
