BY THE time India reached the semi-finals of the on-going One-Day International (ODI) World Cup in England, a new superstar has arisen on the cricketing horizon in Rohit Sharma. And how one wishes this sublime saga of batsmanship never eclipses. And Team India, naturally, would be hoping that the phenomenon called Rohit would go on ceaselessly so that Virat Kohli’s men would be proud owners of the coveted Cup, which appears to be at a striking distance but still remains in the realm of elusiveness, given the quirks of cricket. Such has been the dominance of one man, Rohit Sharma, in India’s progression to the top of the table in this World Cup that statistics are being already reeled out to seek for comparisons and who could be nearest to the man presently on song.
And many of the past legendary records appear to be threatened by the one-man army called Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma has already overhauled the record of most centuries in one edition of the World Cup standing in the name of Sri Lankan maestro Kumar Sangakara and is on the verge of overtaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a single edition of the World Cup set in 2003. That is some revelation indeed of man who has been punching well below his weight thus far. Rohit Sharma himself must be a very happy man about what he has produced so far in this tournament. But the manner in which he is going about the business of accumulating runs, it appears his hunger is insatiable and would not like to lower his guard till the end of the tournament.
The cricketing world is already agog with the exploits of two people who have set the English greens on fire -- one of course is Rohit Sharma and the other is Jasprit Bumrah, feared by all batsmen for his barrage of toe-crushers. These two gentlemen from India are now the talk of the tournament and the English media is never tired of singing paeans over their exploits.
The Indian team was much dependent on Rohit Sharma- Shikhar Dhawan pair for laying sound foundation but unfortunately injury to Dhawan separated the pair very prematurely. That could have been an upsetting development for any batsman. Rohit Sharma realised the responsibility after Dhawan’s exit from the rest of the tournament and took upon himself the task of steering the Indian cause. Fortunately in KL Rahul he found an able ally in his exploits. It appears, the adversity at the beginning of the tournament steeled Rohit Sharma’s resolve to do the best in his capacity. And what exhibition of exalted batsmanship it has been throughout this tournament. Very rarely an individual is seen as domineering as Rohit Sharma has been this tournament. For Virat Kohli Rohit is now the key man.