Rohit Sharma remains right now an iconic figure in Indian cricket. Having carved his own niche by continuing the line of greats left behind by legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag. His elevation to being the best Indian batsman serves as a testament to his unmatchable talent. It equally reflects his acumen as a strategic and tactical guerilla leader. Recently, Sharma’s unexpected retirement from Test cricket has left fans and analysts pondering his legacy and future contributions to the game.
Sharma’s first break came in 2007 when he played his first ODI against Ireland. That was the beginning of his journey on which he turned out to be one of the most flourishing batsmen in modern cricket. He dazzled everyone’s minds with his dainty strokeplay. Acclaimed by his former India coach Ravi Shastri on his precision and timing comparing his batting to a “Swiss Watch”.
Sharma thus became the last player in this elite group to make Test cricket debut. This batch featured the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. The way he arrived on the Test scene was nothing short of spectacular. He provided an incredible debut performance at Eden Gardens, with a score of 177 runs. This extraordinary accomplishment creates a very high bar for the remainder of his career. He made a name for himself when the tide was against him, scoring 111 runs in Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match at Wankhede Stadium. This brilliant performance etched his achievement even deeper in the pages of Indian cricket history.
Sharma’s Test career really picked up steam as recently as 2019. This despite encouragement from Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli for him to go out and open the batting. This watershed moment not only changed his approach to batting, but it allowed him to better play to his strengths. Despite that rocky start, he has since constructed a stellar track record. He has amassed over 40,302 runs in 67 Test matches, with an average approaching 40. His wristy technique and natural finesse have led to comparisons with other artists like VVS Laxman and Australian cricketer Mark Waugh.
Besides his accolades with the test cricket, Sharma has had considerable success in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has led the Mumbai Indians to five championship wins. This record bears testimony not just to his unmatched talent, but to his incredible power as a team player. He proved his leadership class by taking India into the final of the ODI World Cup in 2019. This extraordinary feat established him as the golden boy in Indian cricket’s pantheon.
Despite all these achievements, Sharma’s announced retirement from Test cricket earlier this month expedited the pain of every fan and pundit. It’s a decision that has raised eyebrows given the announcement came just weeks before a pivotal five-Test series against England. Such timing naturally raised questions about his future and the unexpectedness of this move. Before retiring from the longest format of the game, he made a mark by stepping back from the playing XI during the last Test at Sydney. This legislative maneuver suggested a new direction for his attention.
Sharma, unlike co-retiree Shikhar Dhawan, has not called time on ODI cricket. Ever since being named captain in 2021, he’s had the highest of expectations. He has a hat-trick of ICC trophies for India in his sights. This goal embodies, heart and soul, his profound dreams and steadfast devotion to the national team. His leadership will certainly be crucial as India plays through some tough international fixtures coming up.
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