MS Dhoni takes decisions based on guts and backs it. One of the career-changing decisions Dhoni took was for Rohit Sharma, the current India limited-overs vice-captain.
Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan are India's opening pair in limited-overs. They have become an integral member of the team after their consistent performance for the last few years. It would not have been possible. The pair we see walking out to bat together, Shikhar and Rohit, they have an interesting story behind their pair-up.
When India went England to play ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, Dhoni decided to surprise Rohit, not intentionally, as he asked him to open in the first match against South Africa. Without thinking much, the Mumbai batsman agreed. But later realized what he has done. Sharma had very less experience of opening the innings at that time.
Rohit revealed it all in a chat show Breakfast with Champions, where he appeared with his batting partner, Dhawan.
“Champions Trophy itna bada tournament hai aur suddenly MS ne mujhe bola ki tu open kar yaar, first match. Maine kaha theek hai chalo dekhte hai. Usne bol to diya, aur maine haan bhi bol diya, phir room me jakar soch raha hun ki maine kya kiya ye, thik kiya ya nahi kiya," Rohit said admitting that he was nervous after being asked to take a new role.
Funnily, Rohit was expecting not to play that match before Dhoni came in and had a chat about the opening batting. The owner of three double hundreds in ODI now had even planned what he is going to do when the team plays. Adding more to it, Rohit was clueless about the opposition as well.
“Mereko opposition voposition kuch pata nahi tha kiske saath khel rhe hai ya nahi. Kyunki ek idea aa jata hai player ko ki player match khel rha hai ya nahi khel rha hai. Vo psychologically aapko pata chal jaata hai. To mai prepare kar raha tha ki mai nahi khel raha hun to mai kya karunga poore din, training karunga ya vo karunga. To opposition kaun tha mujhe koi farq nahi pad raha tha”, Rohit added.
Rohit and Shikhar will be in action again for India in the ongoing World Cup 2019. They start their campaign against South Africa.
