Rohit Sharma. The name now resonates with big scores, explosive knocks and world records in ODI cricket. Be it having the most double hundreds, the highest individual score, most hundreds in a single World Cup or most scores over 150, the man just loves to achieve milestones. So it is no surprise that he was named ICC ODI Player of the Year for 2019.
But it was not always the case. Rewind to 10 years back, when he was still struggling to earn a place in the side as a middle order batsman. In fact people would make fun of him by calling him 'maggi man', since they claimed his stay at the crease was 2 minutes, the time it took to make that noodles. Of course, this was an exaggeration, but Rohit's lack of consistency added fuel to the fire.
In 2011, he missed out on a place in the World Cup squad and the man was devastated. But he did not lose hope and slowly began to claw his way back into the side. Then came a masterstroke from MS Dhoni which turned things in his favour.?
During the 2013 Champions Trophy, Dhoni promoted Rohit to open the batting with Shikhar Dhawan. The duo would go on to form a deadly combo at the top which would provide good starts for the Men in Blue. Rohit proved his mettle as an opener in the Champions Trophy and the rest as they say is history.?
In 2013 he almost set the world record for highest individual ODI score when he slammed 209 vs Australia. The record was 219 then and it belonged to Virender Sehwag. But Rohit was not to be denied, he slammed 264 vs Sri Lanka a year later and that record stands to this day. The only person who got close was Martin Guptill who made 237 vs West Indies in 2015.?
Fast forward to 2019. Rohit slammed 5 hundreds in one World Cup, the most by any player ever in the tournament's history. He has the most hundreds in World Cups overall, a record he shares with Sachin Tendulkar, but of course he has played less games so takes the top spot on the list.?
He turns 33 this year and there is no doubt he's going to be around for another 3-4 years given his current form and fitness. When it comes to openers in ODIs, right now he is second to none. Perhaps David Warner comes close, but for sheer numbers, Rohit is miles ahead. Big scores, consistent scoring and quick runs ensure he does the job for the Men in Blue.?
Rohit belongs as an opener and if he is there till the 40th over, India get a huge score and Rohit himself piles on his own runs. Let's face it, he has no equal in the modern age as an ODI opener. The man who bloomed late is now feared by the best bowlers in the business.? ?
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