ICC World Cup 2019 | 2011 World Cup snub turning point in Rohit Sharma’s career, says Dinesh Lad
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According to Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad, being omitted from the 2011 World Cup squad was the turning point in Rohit Sharma’s career. Lad has said that his cricketing ward started to focus on the game, and not the fame or money, with a renewed vigour after the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma has been in stupendous form at the 2019 World Cup, with scores of 122*, 57, and 140. Fans and pundits have already dubbed him to be one of the finest opening batsmen ODI cricket has ever seen. His consistent run of form since the 2013 Champions Trophy is evidence according to many.
But Dinesh Lad, Rohit’s childhood coach, does not see much of a difference in his batting over the years, except the increased levels of maturity that have come with experience. Having been drafted into the national team at the 2007 T20 World Cup, a young Rohit showed immense composure against quality bowling attacks. But Lad says that fame and money took Rohit’s focus away from the game.
“He was not looking after his cricket. Because of that, he was also dropped from the 2011 World Cup as he was not performing well. That [being omitted] was very shocking.I called him over and told him, ‘listen Rohit, you are here because of cricket. You earned fame and money through cricket. But , you are not looking after your cricket, so I request you to start practicing,” Lad told PTI.
“From that , he started practicing from seven in the morning till five in the evening,” Dinesh said.
But according to his childhood coach, Rohit, the cricketer, was made complete in the time he spent with the Mumbai Indians. Rohit has led the Mumbai Indians to four title wins so far and is the most successful captain in the history of the league.
“It made a difference to his career for him to get into that side; to know how to handle a team. And from close quarters, he saw the discipline of his idol Sachin Tendulkar. That’s why, after 2011, his career graph has been up,” Lad said.
