India head coach Rahul Dravid on Monday (January 23) talked about the turning point in Rohit Sharma's career, saying the current Indian captain caught everyone’s attention when he got the opportunity to open the innings.
Rohit was tasked to open the innings in ODIs for the first time during the tour of South Africa in January 2011. While he failed to make a mark initially, he was given the same role during the home series against England in 2013.
Sharma never looked back thereafter as he formed a formidable opening partnership with Shikhar Dhawan during the triumphant Champions Trophy 2013 campaign in England.
"He has been a phenomenal cricketer for India. I remember seeing him for the first time when he was 17 or 18, just came out of Under 19s, you could see him looking slightly different and he has gone on to prove that. You look at a lot of kids, who look different at 19 but not all of them go on to actually achieve their potential. What Rohit has done over the last 15 years I think now has actually achieved his potential and really been a great servant of Indian cricket and done really well," Dravid said in the press conference on the eve of the third ODI against New Zealand.
"Maybe for him in some ways, the turning point was when he got the opportunity to finally open and really his hallmark has been his performances in ICC tournaments that we saw in 2019 but also his ability that to score big runs, someone who has got three double hundreds in this format (ODI) is absolutely phenomenal achievement," he added.
Rohit, who made his international debut in 2007, has quite a few world records to his name. He is the proud owner of the highest individual ODI score — 264 (against Sri Lanka in 2014). Moreover, he is the only batsman to have smashed three ODI double tons and four Twenty20 international centuries.
In his illustrious career so far, Sharma has amassed 9681 ODI runs in 240 matches at an average of 48.64 and a strike rate of 89.66, including 29 hundreds.
Coming to his exploits in Test cricket, Rohit has left a lasting impression on everyone while batting at the top. The right-hander has played 45 Tests so far, scoring 3137 runs at an average of 46.13 with 8 hundreds and 14 fifties.
"He has been incredibly successful. He is someone who has got that kind of game. You can't think of a kind of bowling to bowl to him. When he is playing well, you can't bowl fast and short to him, he takes down spinners, he plays swing well. He has got a really good complete game. He has been a fantastic player for India, he has been batting really well for us. Even in last few games, it was terrific to watch him playing. Great to have him leading the side at the moment," the India coach stated.
