Former Indian head coach Anil Kumble believes that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was never out of form in cricket, as he looked determined to score big runs in the IPL 2023 and WTC final 2023. The 36-year-old batted brilliantly with full intent in recent times looking for opportunities to score runs in the new ball in all three formats.
Rohit Sharma’s career took a massive turn for the better after being made to open the batting in 2013, where he established himself as one of the best openers from the Indian team of all time, but in the last two years, his form has dipped in the game, as he was unable to score runs opening the batting for India across the formats.
Speaking on Jiocinema, Anil Kumble feels that Rohit Sharma played with full intent to score runs against West Indies in the 1st innings even though the pitch was on the slower side, as the Indian captain took his time to settle down in the middle before taking on the bowlers.
“You saw from Ball 1, the moment he stepped out, he knew he had to play a different kind of an innings, it was not the kind of pitch where the ball was coming onto the bat. Rohit likes the pace, even when the fast bowlers bowled those short deliveries, it was not coming on. He was happy to stay restrained and then, on a couple of occasions, he took on the bowlers and hit them over the top,” Anil Kumble said.
Rohit Sharma-led side secured a dominating innings victory over West Indies in the 1st test and they will look to continue their winning run in the 2nd test and followed by three ODIS series where he will lead the side. India will also play five T20Is on the tour, but Hardik Pandya will captain India in the shorter format.
Rohit Sharma Was Looking Good Every Time He Went Out There – Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble heaped praise on Rohit Sharma for his phenomenal knock against Men in Maroon in the 1st test and asserted that he never looked out of form in the game, as he looked great touch in WTC Final and IPL 2023 but got out in the wrong time and added that the Indian captain played with a lot of determination to get that three-digit after some time.
“Yes, wonderful innings, much-needed for Rohit because it was not that he was out of form. Even in the WTC, he was looking really good, yes, he got out but he was looking good. Even in the IPL, he looked good every time he went there. You could make out that when someone is not in form, and he was never like that. I am glad that he could put his head down and get the hundred,” Anil Kumble added.
Rohit Sharma will look to continue his fine form in the West Indies tour, as his form will be crucial for the Men in Blue this year with Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023 being scheduled later this year in India.