(AFP Photo)
India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has lauded captain Rohit Sharma for his standout batting performances during the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. Ashwin praised Rohit for his fearless approach, highlighting his impressive display despite being at the later stages of his international career.
Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the Indian team had a challenging series, ultimately losing 2-0 to Sri Lanka, with the first ODI ending in a tie and subsequent losses in the next two games.
Despite the team’s overall struggles, Rohit shone with the bat. He began the series with a solid 58 off 47 balls, followed by scores of 64 off 44 balls and 35 off 20 balls in the remaining matches. Accumulating 157 runs at an average of 52.33 and a strike rate of 141.44, Rohit hit eight sixes, showcasing his exceptional form.
Rohit Sharma Is Par Excellence At This Point Of Time – Ravichandran Ashwin
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin expressed admiration for Rohit Sharma’s batting display against Sri Lanka. Ashwin praised Rohit for his aggressive approach from the outset, calling his performance exceptional.
“One thing that stood up for me in the Sri Lanka series was Rohit Sharma’s batting once again. No matter what is happening, no fear, Rohit means I am going to hit. As a batter, Rohit is par excellence at this point of time,” Ashwin stated.
India experienced their first ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka since 1997. The team won’t be competing in any ODIs until January 2025, when they will face England. The upcoming series will consist of three matches, scheduled to take place in Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad between February 6 and February 12. This series will be India’s final ODI engagement before the Champions Trophy 2025, set to be held in February-March.
Rohit Sharma Is Creating Options – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Rohit Sharma for his inventive batting techniques. The Tamil Nadu cricketer praised Sharma for employing a range of shots, including the square cut and reverse sweep. Ashwin also emphasized Sharma’s ability to take control against fast bowlers, particularly by using his footwork to advance down the pitch.
“Rohit Sharma plays square, sweeps – tries reverse sweep, when he plays fast ball, he uses his feet to come down the track – he is creating options,” Ashwin added.
The India National Cricket Team is set to transition to a demanding Test season. They will begin by facing Bangladesh in a two-match Test series at home next month. Following that, India will host New Zealand for three Test matches in October. The team will then embark on a tour to Australia for a five-Test series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
