India have secured a spot in yet another ICC final and are set to face New Zealand in the Champions Trophy title clash on Sunday. While the team has received widespread praise for its all-round performance throughout the tournament, captain and opener Rohit Sharma has found himself at the center of criticism for failing to convert his strong starts into substantial scores.
Rohit has managed to accumulate 104 runs from four innings at a strike rate of 107.21, a reflection of his aggressive batting style. However, this approach often leads to him throwing away his wicket after promising starts. India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has come to Rohit’s defense, asserting that the team management is not focused on individual statistics but rather on the overall impact of a player’s performance.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, on the other hand, holds a different view. He believes that if Rohit spends more time at the crease, he could significantly boost India’s total, making it easier for the team to surpass the 300-run mark. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar explained, “(If) He (Rohit Sharma) bats for even 25 overs, India will be around 180-200. Imagine if they have lost only a couple of wickets by then; just think what they could do. They could reach 350 or more.”
Sunil Gavaskar further elaborated on the importance of finding a balance between aggression and patience. He remarked, “He also needs to give it some thought. It’s one thing to go out and play aggressively, but there has to be a bit of discretion somewhere to give himself the chance to bat for 25-30 overs. If he does that, he takes the game away from the opposition. That kind of impact is match-winning.”
Rohit’s highest score in the ongoing tournament stands at 41, which he registered in India’s opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai. Since then, his performances have included scores of 20 against Pakistan, 15 against New Zealand, and 28 against Australia.
Sunil Gavaskar believes that Rohit should not be content with these short-lived innings. He questioned, “And I think, as a batter, are you happy with scoring 25-30 runs? You shouldn’t be! So that is what I would say to him: your impact on the team will be even greater if you bat for 25 overs instead of just seven, eight, or nine overs.”
As India prepares for the final showdown against New Zealand, Rohit’s ability to strike a balance between aggression and longevity at the crease could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of the tournament.
