Rohit Sharma is leading the Indian team from the front in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Under his leadership, the Men in Blue have qualified for the semi-final without losing a single match in the league stage.
Opening the innings, Rohit has batted with fearless approach in the marquee event, amassing 503 runs from 9 innings at an impressive average of 55.88 and a remarkable strike rate of 121.49, including one hundred and three fifties.
India are scheduled to face New Zealand in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15.
On the eve of the knock-out fixture, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar said that Rohit Sharma is not bothered by personal milestones and he won’t change his approach.
“Well, I don’t think Rohit Sharma is going to change his game because that’s how he’s playing throughout this tournament. He hasn’t been bothered about any personal landmarks or milestones,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“He’s looking to get the team up to a flying start because what that does, it puts the opposition under pressure and gives his team the platform from where they can then capitalise on the remaining 40 overs,” he added.
“So in the first 8 -10 overs, he’s really going to slam back at the bowling and he’s putting the opposition on the back foot with that attacking batting. He also has a very able and very capable partner as Shubman Gill, whose note no with behind him. He’s almost matching him stroke for stroke,” he further stated.
According to Gavaskar, the dew could be a positive factor in the last-four clash in Mumbai.
“Well, if you have got a good bowling attack like India have, it doesn’t really matter if they are bowling first or bowling second. Clearly, if they are bowling, second, it will help because we’ve seen under a little bit of dew that comes in, the ball flies to the wicket keeper a little bit quicker.
“So, it certainly will help the three new ball bowlers in the Indian line-up for sure, and it also helps a spinner like Kuldeep Yadav to get the ball to skid out of the surface also quicker,” he explained.
Besides Rohit, the Wankhede Stadium is also a home ground for Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav, and Gavaskar said it would indeed be a special feeling for the three.
“Believe me, it is special to be back playing at your home ground, and for these three boys as well, they have played so much of their cricket at the Wankhede stadium.”
“It will be really special because the crowd will be there and their families will be there, and when you know everybody you have grown up playing cricket with, maybe in the maidans or maybe in the gullies, they are all going to be there, it just makes it that much more special.”
“And, you want to, therefore, do well for those people, and when you go back at the end of day’s play that those same people will pat you on the back, that’s a feeling that is unforgettable,” he remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)
