ICC World Cup 2019 | Rohit Shama has fulfilled his responsibility when the team needed it, writes Kris Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth was all praise for Rohit Sharma and highlighted the way in which he has carried out his role for the Indian team, a crucial factor behind the success they have had in the tournament. The opener, on Tuesday, played a record-equalling innings to guide his team to a win over Bangladesh.
To even say that Rohit Sharma has been India’s best batsman so far in the World Cup seems to be an understatement. 544 runs in seven innings at an average of 90-plus, the 32-year-old has been in a rich vein of form ever since his match-winning innings in the tournament opener against South Africa.
“What more is there to say about Rohit Sharma? He has been simply incredible in this World Cup. Four amazing centuries in a single ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is remarkable. He is now level with Kumar Sangakkara for the most-ever in a single World Cup, and I thought he was exceptional against Bangladesh,” former Indian opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth wrote in his column for the ICC.
His 104 off 92 balls last night also helped him leapfrog the Australian duo of Aaron Finch and David Warner to become the tournament’s leading run scorer. Equally impressive is the fact that his runs have come at a strike of 97, which includes a spectrum of differently paced innings. While his 122 against the Proteas came at a strike rate of 84.72 to guide his team to a successful run chase, his full-throttle innings against the Tigers was scored at a rate of 113.04.
“You cannot ask for anything more from an opening batsman. Rohit knows when to attack and when to build an innings more conservatively. In this game (against Bangladesh) he was aggressive from the start and his 104 really gave India the momentum early on. Contrast that with the hundred he scored against South Africa in the first game, two completely different innings, but equally as important,” Srikkanth added.
He has been one of the main men responsible for India’s continued success in the 50-over format and now has 8,500-plus runs in an impressive 213 ODIs at an average of 49, including a record three double-centuries. Along with Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, he has formed a cohesive and reliable nexus of india’s top order over the past few years.
“The determination and willpower is incredible. Opening in a World Cup is so important and he has taken on the responsibility when the team needed it. The way he has stepped up since Shikhar Dhawan’s injury is crucial for India,” Srikkanth wrote.
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