Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma on Saturday said the team has not found a finisher since the international retirement of the peerless MS Dhoni on 15th August, 2020 and going into next year’s 2023 ODI World Cup, they are hoping to find one.

Rohit Sharma, a newly-appointed full-time Indian limited-overs skipper, was asked how he was looking at the finisher’s role — especially the No 6 and 7 in the batting order — where he admitted that they need to create more back-ups other than Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.

Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma. Image Credits: AFP

Rohit Sharma: Since MS Dhoni’s Retirement, India Haven’t Got A Finisher

Even though Team India has replaced Covid-19 positive opener Shikhar Dhawan with Ishan Kishan as a like-for-like replacement in their playing XI against the West Indies for the first One Day International (ODI), Indian skipper Rohit Sharma feels the Men In Blue haven’t got anyone to fit in the finisher’s role that was once played by legendary skipper MS Dhoni.

“Finisher’s role in ODI is very important but since MS Dhoni’s retirement we haven’t got anyone who could fit in that role,” Rohit said on the eve of the first ODI against the West Indies.

MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Twitter)
MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Twitter)

“We have tried Hardik, even Jadeja has played but we need to create more back-ups for that slot. The boys who will be getting chances in the series, hopefully, they will utilise those chances and consolidate their position in the team. A finisher bats at a crucial phase, and often, his contribution could be a game-changer,” the skipper said.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added Ishan Kishan and Shahrukh Khan to India’s white-ball squad for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Skipper Rohit Sharma has confirmed that Ishan Kishan will open for India in the 1st ODI against the Men from the Caribbean.

Notable that 7 members in the Indian camp had been tested positive for Covid-19 which included 4 players- Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and net bowler Navdeep Saini.

Rohit Sharma: Youngsters Will Get Their Chances

A reporter wanted to ask if Rohit Sharma would love to blood juniors but the way the question was framed, it allowed him to get a taste of the skipper’s dry sense of humour.

“Just like you and Shikhar were promoted as an opener in 2013 Champions Trophy, will you blood juniors as we have had a same pattern for years now? he asked, with a feel-good comment about how he has “encouraged juniors”.

For someone who has encountered thousand of such questions, the funny side was up there for everyone.

“So you are saying, me and Shikhar should be dropped and we should have Ruturaj and Ishan open for India? Is that what you mean? he winked and smiled.”

“No I am saying if one among you two make way we might get results like the way we got when you were elevated,” the reporter pushed his luck.

Ishan Kishan (Image Credit: BCCI)
Ishan Kishan (Image Credit: BCCI)

“Yes, we got results. But if you are talking about the top three, they have been pretty consistent performers for years. So yes, the youngsters will get their share of chances and just like Ishan is getting a chance, they will keep getting chances,” he said on a more serious note.

“We have a lot of matches in future so batters will get their fair share of chances. Shikhar Dhawan batted well in South Africa and now he is down with COVID, even Rutu has COVID, so Ishan is getting his chances, so youngsters will get chances but how they utilise is the actual thing.”

KL Rahul will not be available for the first ODI match against West Indies and hence, following Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad testing positive for Covid-19, the selectors added Mayank Agarwal and Ishan Kishan to the squad. On the eve of the first ODI against the West Indies, Indian captain Rohit Sharma revealed that he will open the batting alongside Ishan Kishan.

Ishan Kishan has so far played just two ODIs for Team India thus far, both against Sri Lanka. He smashed 60 runs at a strike rate of 130.43 with a top score of 59. In 7 games for the senior national team(5 T20Is, 2 ODIs), Ishan Kishan has got 173 runs with a strike rate touching 130 in both formats.