Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, has faced a challenging start to his Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour. Struggling with form and fitness, he now finds himself at a career crossroads. As the series progresses, he is determined to turn things around, especially with the pressure mounting on him. At 37, after a career full of highs, Rohit Sharma is under scrutiny as he grapples with a prolonged slump in form.
Rohit Sharma’s Early Struggles in Australia
Rohit’s journey to Australia has been a whirlwind, marked by emotional highs and lows. Having just become a father again, his return to the team was swift and full of distractions. Arriving in Perth to join a team already immersed in Test cricket, Rohit quickly faced one of his toughest challenges yet. With an average of just 27.80 from eight matches in Australia, the conditions at the Gabba, known for its pace and bounce, pose a particular challenge.
Rohit was quickly thrust into the firing line, facing Australia’s top bowlers—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland. His role as opener had to be adjusted, with KL Rahul doing well at the top. The late arrival and the personal distractions meant Rohit was not yet in the rhythm required to take on such a formidable attack. However, as the tour progressed, Rohit showed signs of improvement, especially during his 45-minute session on Thursday morning, where his defensive game looked sharper.
Rohit Sharma’s Method: From Controlled Risk to Recklessness?
One of the key aspects of Rohit’s game, which set him apart, was his ability to balance caution and aggression. Early in his career, he was known for being watchful, gathering information before launching into full attack mode. This approach worked across all formats, allowing him to make calculated decisions and accumulate runs over time.
However, recent struggles suggest a shift in his approach. The influence of limited-overs cricket, where aggression is more accepted, has seemingly impacted his Test batting style. Rohit began to lean more towards risk and high-intensity shots, especially on pitches that offered little room for error. His mindset shifted to match the aggressive, cavalier style demanded in limited-overs cricket, which might have affected his consistency in longer formats like Tests.
Rohit Sharma’s Current Form: A Work in Progress
Rohit’s recent form, especially his failure to score big in the 2023-24 Test season, has raised concerns. With an average of just 11.83 since his last Test century in March 2024, his batting has been out of sync. His recent dismissals have often been due to technical flaws, particularly getting out to lbw and being bowled, as noted by his teammate Cheteshwar Pujara.
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit is working hard on his defense, especially against deliveries that rise off a back-of-a-length. The pitch at The Gabba is expected to be challenging, and with India’s batting lineup under pressure, Rohit will need to step up.
Rohit Sharma: Indian Cricket Captain, Record-Breaking Batsman, and T20 World Cup Winner
Rohit Gurunath Sharma, born on 30 April 1987, is an Indian international cricketer and the current captain of the India national cricket team in Test and One Day International (ODI) formats. Renowned for his exceptional batting skills, he is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of his generation and one of the greatest white-ball opening batsmen in the history of cricket.
Early Career and Records
Rohit Sharma’s cricketing journey began with the Mumbai Indians and the Mumbai cricket team in domestic cricket. He became the captain of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading them to five IPL titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, making him the most successful captain in IPL history alongside MS Dhoni. Rohit’s record-breaking career has been marked by numerous achievements in all formats of the game.
Major Achievements and Records
- ODI Cricket: Rohit Sharma is the only player in history to score three double centuries in ODIs and holds the record for the highest individual score (264) in a One Day International (ODI) match. He is also the only player to score five centuries in a Cricket World Cup, a feat he achieved across multiple tournaments.
- T20I Cricket: Rohit is widely considered a pioneer in the T20 format. He holds the record for most T20I runs and most sixes in international cricket, along with the distinction of scoring the most T20I centuries (5). He was the first cricketer to score five T20I centuries and is also the only Indian player to win two T20 World Cups.
- World Cup Success: Rohit was part of India’s victorious squads in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He also led India to a historic victory in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, marking a significant achievement in his career.
Captaincy and Leadership
Under his captaincy, India won multiple major tournaments, including the 2018 Asia Cup and the 2023 Asia Cup in the ODI format, as well as the 2018 Nidahas Trophy in T20Is. With 50 T20I wins as captain, Rohit Sharma stands as one of the most successful T20I captains in history. His leadership skills and consistency on the field have made him a key figure in India’s cricketing success.
National Honors and Recognition
Rohit Sharma has earned two prestigious national honors: the Arjuna Award in 2015 for his exceptional performance in cricket and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020, the highest sporting honor in India. His career continues to inspire budding cricketers, and his contributions to Indian cricket have been widely acknowledged.
IPL Legacy
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rohit Sharma has been synonymous with success. As the captain of the Mumbai Indians, he has led the team to five IPL titles, making him the most successful captain in the history of the tournament, alongside MS Dhoni. His leadership has been instrumental in Mumbai Indians’ dominance in the IPL over the years.
Personal Life and Advocacy
Outside cricket, Rohit Sharma is an active advocate for animal welfare. He is the official Rhino Ambassador for WWF-India and is deeply involved with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). He has worked on several initiatives to raise awareness about the plight of homeless animals in India, particularly cats and dogs.
Rohit Sharma’s Impact on Cricket
Rohit Sharma’s impact on Indian and world cricket is undeniable. He is the only cricketer to score three double centuries in ODIs and is widely regarded as one of the most talented players of the modern era. With his calm demeanor, exceptional batting technique, and leadership qualities, Rohit Sharma continues to leave an indelible mark on the sport.
International career
Test matches
In November 2013, during Sachin Tendulkar‘s farewell series, Sharma made his Test debut at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against West Indies and scored 177, the second-highest score on debut by an Indian to Shikhar Dhawan (187).[32] He followed it up with 111 (not out) in the second Test at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.[33]
Having been out of the Test team since 2017–18, Sharma went on the 2018–19 tour of Australia after he had earned a recall earlier. Chief selector M. S. K. Prasad said the reason for his recall was that his natural game suited the bouncy Australian pitches.[34] Sharma played in the first Test in Adelaide, scoring 37 and 1 in an Indian victory.[35][36] During the first Test, he sustained a minor injury which saw him miss the second Test in Perth.[37] He recovered for the Boxing Day third Test at Melbourne and scored 63 (not out) to help India total 443/7 and win both the Test and the series.[38] After the third Test, Sharma had to return to India for the birth of his daughter.[39]
In October 2019, in the third Test against South Africa, Sharma scored his 2,000th run and his first double century in Tests. He made 212 in the first innings of the match.[40][41] Sharma was named as vice-captain of India’s Test team during the tour of Australia in 2020, replacing Cheteshwar Pujara.[42][43][44]
Sharma had a successful home series against England in 2021. Instrumental in his team’s comeback after a defeat in the first Test at Chennai, he scored a century, one that The Guardian termed “deserves to be considered one of the greatest this century.”[45] He put on 167 runs with Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth wicket while making 161 runs in an innings that included 18 fours and two sixes.[46] India went on to win the Test by 317 runs.[47] He top-scored for his side in both innings of the low-scoring third Test in Ahmedabad with scores of 66 and 25 contributing to his team’s win.[48] Sharma finished the series aggregating 345 runs, the most for India, at an average of 58.[45] He went on to score his first overseas Test century on 4 September 2021 with an innings of 127 against England at The Oval, also reaching the milestone of 3,000 runs in Test cricket.[49]
Sharma was appointed captain of India’s Test team in February 2022, succeeding Virat Kohli, ahead of a two-match series against Sri Lanka.[50] Sunil Gavaskar praised his leadership and Chetan Sharma, India’s chairman of selectors, said: “We will groom future captains under him”.[51]
2015, 2019 and 2023 Cricket World Cups
Main articles: 2015 Cricket World Cup, 2019 Cricket World Cup, and 2023 Cricket World Cup
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In March 2015, Sharma made his first appearance in the Cricket World Cup and played in eight matches for India in the 2015 tournament in Australia. India reached the semi-final stage where they were defeated by Australia. Sharma scored 330 runs in the tournament with one century, a score of 137 in the quarter-final against Bangladesh.[52]
On 15 April 2019, Sharma was appointed vice-captain of India’s squad for the 2019 World Cup in England.[53] In the opening match against South Africa, he scored 122, including his 12,000th run in international cricket.[54][55] He followed it up with centuries against Pakistan, England and Bangladesh. In the match against Sri Lanka, hitting yet another century, he became the first batsman to score five centuries in a single World Cup tournament,[56] and equalled Tendulkar’s record for the most centuries (6) in all World Cup matches.[57] Sharma totalled 648 runs in the tournament to finish as the leading run-scorer and win the ICC’s Golden Bat award, the third Indian player to do so.[58]
On 8 October 2023, during the ICC Cricket World Cup, Sharma was entrusted with the captaincy responsibilities for the Indian team in a match against Australia. This significant moment marked the first time he captained the Indian side in the Cricket World Cup. What set this particular event apart was that at that time, he had become the oldest player to lead the Indian team in the tournament,[59] showcasing his maturity and experience as a cricketer.
On 11 October 2023, during a match against Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup 2023, Sharma achieved a milestone by surpassing the Sachin Tendulkar‘s record for the most centuries in World Cup history. With a display of batting prowess, Sharma notched his seventh century, breaking the record in this World Cup encounter.[60]
Conclusion
From leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup to breaking numerous records in ODIs and T20Is, Rohit Sharma is a cricketing legend. His consistency, ability to perform in high-pressure situations, and leadership skills have made him one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history. As he continues to captain India across formats, Rohit’s journey remains an inspiration to aspiring cricketers worldwide.
A Key Moment in Rohit’s Career
Rohit’s career has been full of iconic moments. From his explosive innings in the 2019 World Cup, where he became the first player to score five centuries in a single World Cup, to his captaincy in multiple successful series, Rohit has always been a leader on the field. However, the recent dip in form and the scrutiny he faces now could determine how his legacy is remembered.
The image of Rohit Sharma dragging himself off the field after a disappointing knock in Adelaide, amidst the dark, is a stark contrast to the fearless captain and batter we are used to seeing. This is the challenge for Rohit now—to find his rhythm, stay confident in his method, and take the team forward, especially with a challenging tour of Australia ahead.
Will Rohit Sharma Bounce Back?
As the series continues, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma. In Brisbane, Rohit seems to be more comfortable and focused on fine-tuning his technique. His defensive game has shown improvement, and with the Gabba pitch offering a mix of pace and bounce, this could be the perfect opportunity for him to prove that he’s still at the top of his game.
Despite the recent setbacks, Rohit’s determination and past experience suggest that a comeback is not far off. Whether or not he can adapt to the pressures of modern cricket, regain his confidence, and return to his best form remains to be seen. However, with his work ethic and dedication, Rohit Sharma will be eager to silence his critics and reaffirm his place as one of India’s most impactful players.
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