Today, Rohit Sharma is India’s highest-ranked test batsman. His ranking is similar in other formats as well. He has looked the most suited in English conditions. Played the ball late, the defense has been compact and he has been among runs. It has been after very long that Indian openers have played out the first hour or so of the session without losing wickets. Sharma has been instrumental in solidifying the top order. His performance since his comeback into the team in Australia has been scintillating.
In the England tour too, he may not have scored daddy hundreds but has looked the most adept batsman. We look at the reasons for this positive metamorphosis in his performance.
1. Promotion to Opener
Following Rohit Sharma’s excellent form in limited-overs cricket, led to his inclusion in the Test side as an opener as well. This allowed Rohit Sharma to really become a well-seasoned player in the red-ball format and further allowed some consistency and further a level of assuredness to enter his game which gave him the confidence to tap into abilities we always knew he had.
MS Dhoni is owed a great deal of credit for seeing and recognizing the ability of Rohit Sharma and promoting him to an opener in 2013 which swiftly led to his rise consistent play in the limited-overs. Fortunately, Rohit knew when to make it count and he has really made sure to have his chances play out well and made them really count.
2. Litany of Home Tests
The home test season from 2014 to 2018 was fairly strong and a large number of tests in that said period were played either at home or on subcontinent wickets which clearly favor Indian batsmen in terms of their ability and general confidence in playing on turning tracks as opposed to seaming or bouncy wickets such as those in Australia or England. It then becomes important to allow Rohit a consistent run at the role he is to play at the top of the order and on wickets such as these, the play style is conducive to Rohit Sharma’s which involves settling in before really making an innings count for something.
A long run wherein consistently, such favorable wickets were by and large where Rohit Sharma played is also a big factor in his rise as a test opener.
3. Consistent Run in Playing XI
It is not hard to make the case for Rohit Sharma as being one of the unluckiest Indian Players in the game right now. He only missed out on a Test debut in 2009 on account of an injury sustained in the warmup of a game he was supposed to play. However, ever since faith as reposed in him to open the innings, while the second opener spot has been a revolving door, Rohit has stood steadfast and consistent as an opener and that has really allowed him to get an eye in and to take the responsibility at the top of the order in a consistent fashion and a proper set role.
4. Experience and Leadership Role
Mentality plays a big part in sports and since being elevated up the order Rohit Sharma has also consistently been a part of the leadership group at Mumbai Indians and also led them to 3 IPL titles which have of course led to his nerves and mentality and killer instinct evolving and allowing for a big spike to grow into the player he is today. It is then important to also see how being at the top of the order Rohit has a job and fulfills responsibility for the other juniors in the team as well. Perhaps he was always meant for a bigger role and he will now become this sort of a player more and more as time goes on.
