Impact would Rohit Sharma have on Indian cricket
With the Asia Cup and the World Cup approaching, the captain and batter will be put to the test.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, has had a distinguished career and will be regarded as one of the finest of this generation. The next three months, though, will be very significant for his career in terms of how he will be viewed and his impact on Indian cricket as a batsman and a leader.
When Virat Kohli and the selectors were at odds, Rohit was forced to step up and become India’s captain. The way Kohli’s captaincy position was handled drew a lot of criticism from fans and even surprise in the cricketing community. Because of Kohli’s prominence in Indian cricket, whomever assumed leadership after him would be subject to greater scrutiny than any previous captain.
The inability of Kohli to win ICC titles was one of the main complaints of his leadership. As a five-time IPL champion, Rohit was given the responsibility of leading India in ICC competitions. It was never a decision that seemed to have been made with a long-term outlook; rather, it was made in search of immediate success.
In his two opportunities to date in ICC competitions, it has mostly been the same story of him losing huge games under duress and crumbling under pressure, a pattern that has persisted since 2013. In both instances, Jasprit Bumrah’s injury provided Rohit with mitigating circumstances, greatly weakening the bowling. But now that the star pacer is back in the mix, the India captain has no room for error.
Accepting the role of captain
Rohit became full-time captaincy of India for the 2022 Asia Cup less than a year ago. Despite having won the trophy the previous year, he wasn’t the regular skipper at the time. The strain on his shoulders became apparent in 2022. Questions regarding his temperament and how he handled the young players in the side were raised by his on-field demeanor during several of the games.
However, Rohit improved at his work the more time he spent doing it. He appeared much calmer and happier during the T20 World Cup in Australia later in 2022, which marked a significant change in his body language. He was also much more shrewd tactically. Additionally, he started to become more cutthroat and made decisions based on his instincts.
Additionally, compared to when he assumed control, he appears to be much more at ease now. The tone in the room lightened when he joked, “Hopefully, Sharma and Kohli can roll their arm over in the World Cup,” at the press conference held for the unveiling of the Asia Cup roster. He appears to have cultivated a captivating aura over time, and he appears more at ease in the spotlight.
Acquiring an aggressive mentality
When England won the World Cup in 2019, they not only lifted the bar for ODI cricket but also provided the model for the contemporary white-ball game.
India played the conventional style for a very long time. Since taking charge, Rohit has made statements about playing an aggressive style of cricket the entire innings. In addition to talking the talk, he is also taking action. In the first 10 overs of the innings, he tried to attack the bowlers. He is striking at 111.41 in ODIs this year, with an average of 81.33 in Powerplays.
The team’s preferred batting strategy appears to have a distinct identity. After losing the ODI series to Australia earlier this year, it was heartening to hear Rohit support this strategy and the players who support it.
“We have frequently discussed courageous cricket. We have given everyone the freedom to challenge the bowlers if they feel up to it, added Rohit.
“It’s possible that they won’t be able to accomplish their goals while doing that, which is fair and acceptable to us. That will teach you something.
“We won’t make a decision solely on a few subpar shots. We want to keep motivating them to play frequently since all of these individuals have a lot of talent and can play these shots whenever they want.
Rohit seemed to relish the additional responsibility as well. He has led his team to 27 victories while scoring 1,175 runs at an average of 55.95 and one double century. Since this team’s batting is not its strongest suit, Rohit’s runs will be essential in both the Asia Cup and World Cup.
Legacy of Rohit
The Indian players of this age revere MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Rohit has his own identity and accomplishments, but he has never been compared to any of them.
When he was young, Rohit was predicted to become the next major celebrity and reach great heights. Prior to Kohli, he made his international debut, but it wasn’t until 2013, six years after his debut, that he began to live up to his potential as the limited-overs side’s opener. He wasn’t physically prepared for the 2011 World Cup and was inconsistent. He has all the talent in the world, but he hasn’t been able to surpass his current accomplishments.
The World Cup performance will be the standard by which Rohit will be measured, even though winning the Asia Cup will be essential for the morale boost it would bring. On November 19, in Ahmedabad, he will have the opportunity to raise the trophy, cementing his place among the greatest Indian cricketers ever.
