THE HITMAT ROHIT SHARMA RETIRING FROM TEST CRICKET BRINGS TO AN END A FABULOUS CAREER!

• The image conjuring up in the minds of the cricket connoisseurs, experts, ex-cricketers, and the crazy fans when Rohit Sharma’s name is mentioned is nothing but the lazy elegance, languid fluidity, and effortless stroke-making ability of a very gifted player. Remember, Rohit Sharma started his cricketing career in the middle order for his state team, Mumbai. Of course, Rohit was always endowed with great potential combined with a silken touch as well as a supremely talented ability for showcasing stroke play. What propelled Rohit to the Indian cricket team is his exploits in the shorter and shortest formats viz. 50-over and T20s. Rohit could pulverize the best of bowling attacks on his day was evident right from the day he started playing competitive cricket.

PC: Guerilla Cricket

• However, what really worked for Rohit is his switching over to opening in the one-dayers. As it happened to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, opening in the 50-over format for Team India did a world of good to Rohit, who made the position his own over the years. Without getting into numerous records against his name, let’s dwell upon how the Hitman came to symbolize Team India’s growth in the white ball formats. Note that the Indian Premier League (IPL) was in its nascent stage when Rohit was drafted into the Deccan Chargers and subsequently to the Mumbai Indians. The latter proved to be a very highly successful endeavour, which he continues to represent after all these years. His IPL record is phenomenal, to say the least.

PC: Times of India

• One can’t forget the way he went about demolishing opposition teams in the 50-over format, scoring big double hundreds in the bargain. Rohit’s astounding success in the white ball formats compelled the selectors to draft him into the Test team. Yes, Rohit’s statistics in the classical format may not be bracketed amongst the best in the business. As you know, he was drafted in as a middle-order batter but graduated to open the innings in Tests too. Rohit did make a splash at the beginning of his Test career, but one must say he was moderately successful in the subsequent years. Even though his statistics in the familiar home conditions are worth mentioning, the overseas records are not too flattering. One can mention he could have done much better, though.

PC: Aaj Tak

• Nonetheless, once bestowed with captaincy in all formats, Rohit did showcase his natural brilliance for a sustained period. However, his returns in the last few years in the classical format have been way below his expectations. Consequently, captaincy too suffered with Team India getting whitewashed against visiting New Zealand for the first time and failing to put up a decent enough show against Australia Down Under in recent times. Rohit’s batting took a serious hit, notching up inconsequential scores which must have made the gentle Hitman decide to take a call on his Test career. After announcing retirement from the T20Is, Rohit has quit Test cricket as well. A well-deserved applause for Rohit for entertaining us with his supremely talented natural batting.