There was a buzz around about whether Rohit Sharma would hang up his boots irrespective of the result of the ICC Champions Trophy. Despite his ODI batting a fresh approach, the age wasn’t on his side. At 37, the reflexes slowed down and there were massive criticisms about his fitness.
However, the Hitman brushed aside all the rumours and claimed that he is planning to continue representing India in ODIs following India’s massive win over New Zealand. Now, Rohit’s decision has been backed by former South African legend AB de Villiers.
AB de Villiers lauds Rohit Sharma
Speaking to his YouTube channel, the RCB star focused on Rohit Sharma’s massive success as captain. Ever since taking the reins from Virat Kohli in 2022, Rohit has been fantastic as a leader, taking the country to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy triumphs.
“Compared to other captains, look at Rohit’s win percentage, it’s almost 74%, which is substantially more than any other captain of the past. If he keeps going, he will go down as one of the best ODI captains of all time. Rohit has also said he is not retiring and has requested that rumours be stopped spreading.
After leading India to 56 one-day international matches, Rohit Sharma has seen success across 42 matches at a win percentage of 77.27. Remarkably, India have been flawless in the last three ICC tournaments, winning 23 out of 24 games. That one encounter, unfortunately, was the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia.
“Why would Rohit Sharma retire?”
Rohit Sharma spearheaded India’s pursuit of 252 runs in the final against New Zealand in Dubai, unleashing a fierce attack during the Powerplay. His outstanding 76-run knock off 83 deliveries earned him the Player of the Final award.
“Why would he retire? With that kind of record not only as captain but also as a batter. That 76 in the final, giving India a fantastic start, laying the foundation for success and leading from the front when the pressure was at its peak,” de Villiers remarked on his YouTube channel.
“Rohit Sharma has got no reason to retire. No reason to take any criticism whatsoever. His record speaks for himself. Not only that, but he has also sort of transformed his game.”
“If we have a look at his strike rate in the Powerplay it was quite low for an opening batter in the Powerplay but since 2022 his strike rate has rose to 115 in the first powerplay and that’s the difference between good and great. It’s transforming your own game and it never stops. You have always something to learn and something to do better,” he added.
Rohit Sharma stats in ODIs
| Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-2021 | 220 | 9205 | 49 | 88.9 | 29 | 43 |
| 2022-Now | 46 | 1963 | 47.87 | 116.84 | 3 | 15 |
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Battling spin: Kohli's intense preparation for CSK's threat in Chennai
Top Stories
