After his 8-run innings in Perth, questions were raised over Rohit Sharma. The last time he was in Australia, the opener had scored 31 runs at 5.20, and that tour had basically ended his Test career. Many wondered whether the same was happening, but in ODI cricket.
This, combined with a sceptical statement by Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar over Rohit’s future vis-à-vis the ODI World Cup in 2027, had many worried. But Rohit had silenced the critics. The former India captain had been putting in a lot of work for the India vs Australia ODI series.
Apart from working on his game, Rohit paid heavy attention to his fitness. He dropped 10 kilograms as preparation for his trip Down Under, working with former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. All that work has paid off, it seems.
Rohit Sharma bounces back in style
With Josh Hazlewood at his best, Rohit didn’t just play out the Australian quick but also put Team India in a favourable position. Unlike his post-2022 self, where he just demolishes bowlers, Rohit took a measured approach and scored a crucial 73 runs from 97 balls.
No one scored more runs or faced more balls than Rohit in the innings for India. Had it not been for his composure, India might have been rolled out for under 200, but his resistance alongside Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel allowed the visitors to go on to score over 250.
After his knock, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif stated that his knock wouldn’t just help Rohit now but in the longer run as well. Given how much scrutiny he’s under, this innings could be a massive positive towards him playing for India in the ODI World Cup.
“Too much social media chatter about his future, tough pitch, world-class pacers operating, Gill and Kohli out cheaply… Despite all that, Rohit plays a very important inning for India and his career. This 73 at Adelaide will give him a lot of confidence. Rohit shows he isn’t going anywhere,” Kaif wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
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