Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricket player, spoke about Rohit Sharma's performance in the third and final ODI against the West Indies. Gavaskar expressed disappointment at missing a century in this match, scoring only 92 runs, and said he wishes that the 'Hitman' has more ODI hundreds than his age by the time he ends his playing career.
Rohit Sharma's Remarkable Performance
Rohit Sharma has recorded 35 centuries in ODI cricket so far, and despite losing this match, the Indian team finished the three-match ODI series 2-1 in their favor. The West Indies successfully chased down 352 runs, thanks to a brilliant performance by Shai Hope, the captain of the team, who scored 162 runs not out.
In this match, after the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli for low scores, Rohit Sharma showcased his brilliance once again, scoring 92 runs off 85 balls to help his team. This outstanding display, following a century in the previous match, highlights his ability to convert opportunities into runs.
Change in Rohit Sharma's Playing Approach
Gavaskar also noted the change in Rohit Sharma's playing approach since the 2023 ODI World Cup, stating that he places more value on preserving his wicket and tries to convert good starts into big scores. This change in approach allows him to move towards centuries while avoiding criticism regarding his gameplay.
Gavaskar added: "A small change in Rohit's playing pattern is noticeable, and he now knows that his wicket is valuable. He brought good starts for the team in the 2023 World Cup, but he is a great player and needs to register hundreds. I am glad he is achieving big scores. Although he missed out on a century in this match, he scored a century in the previous game. Therefore, recognizing that his duty as a player is also to score hundreds shows his professional outlook."
Rohit Sharma has continued to perform well during his recent ODI run. While there are rumors that the third ODI against England at Lord's might be his last international appearance, he responded to these rumors with an astonishing performance, scoring 138 runs off 110 balls. This incredible performance reminds everyone of his match-winning abilities, even though the team lost by 27 runs due to an overall lack of success.
Overall, Rohit Sharma scored 175 runs in the three-match ODI series against England at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 98.31, and he also scored 225 runs in three matches in the current series against the West Indies. These statistics reflect the consistency and high quality of his game at the international level.
