Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that he hopes star opener Rohit Sharma wins a World Cup for India before announcing his retirement from the international circuit. He called Rohit Sharma a ‘special batsman’ who belongs on the same pedestal as Virender Sehwag and other legendary Indian openers.
Addressing a press conference, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that he has known Rohit Sharma for a long time and the opener’s success at the top of the order isn’t surprising for anyone in the team.
Ravichandran Ashwin: Rohit Sharma Is A Special Cricketer And Hopes He Win A World Cup
Rohit Sharma has come to his usual best in whites with crucial runs at the top in the ongoing Tests versus England. He has one fifty-plus score, a sedate 49, and a century up to his sleeves in the four Tests. He also breached the 1,000-run mark in the ongoing ICC Test Championship following his crucial contribution during India’s first innings of the final Test in Ahmedabad.
Ajinkya Rahane (1095 runs), Rohit Sharma (1030 runs), Virat Kohli (877 runs), Cheteshwar Pujara(818 runs), Rishabh Pant (662 runs), Shubman Gill (378 runs) are the Indian batsmen scoring the most runs in the inaugural World Test Championship 2019-21.
“When you put him on the pedestal of Virender Sehwag and the few other names you mentioned, that’s the right place, that’s where he belongs. We all know that. My history with Rohit goes a long way back, probably 20 years ago, since I have watched him bat, and he has always been a special batsman.”
Ravichandran Ashwin continued by saying that Rohit Sharma is a ‘special’ player, saying in this regard: “It is not a surprise that you are seeing him on the same lines as Sehwag. It’s not evolution; it’s just a matter of time. Nobody is surprised with Rohit Sharma for doing what he’s doing. He is a special cricketer; he’s a special batsman. I just hope he goes on to win a World Cup for India,” said Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s comments came in the aftermath of India’s 3-1 series victory over England. Ravichandran Ashwin was awarded the ‘Man of the Series’ for his all-round effort (32 wickets and 189 runs), but Rohit Sharma wasn’t too far behind.
Virat Kohli: Rohit Sharma’s 161 As Good As Getting 250 On A Good Batting Wicket
In a low-scoring series where most batsmen struggled, opener Rohit Sharma scored 345 runs at an impressive average of 57.5. He got starts in almost all the Tests, which paved the way for India’s emphatic series win.
In the post-match presentation ceremony after the fourth Test in Ahmedabad, captain Virat Kohli termed Rohit Sharma’s innings of 161 in the second Test in Chennai as the ‘defining moment’ of the four-match series.
“I think Rohit’s knock was the defining moment in us coming back into the series. Getting 160 on that pitch was as good as getting 250 on any good batting wicket. I think it’s definitely one of his best Test knocks, if not the best. That gave us the kind of momentum we needed as a side and really got us into the contest. It was an outstanding innings, and he batted really well at the top of the order,” said Virat Kohli.
The Indian captain is going through a rather lean phase, which has seen his century-drought being extended since November 2019. He has failed to impress with the willow as he has registered scores of 11, 72, 0, 62, 27, and 0 across six innings against England.
India and England will now play a 5-match T20I series, which starts in Ahmedabad on March 12.
After scoring 6 and 12 in the 1st Test, Rohit Sharma top-scored in the first innings with 66 and remained unbeaten on 25 in the second innings in the low-scoring 3rd Test. He was the top scorer in both the 2nd and 3rd Tests after scoring 161 and 26 at Chennai in the 2nd Test. He scored 49 in the 4th Test which India won by an innings.