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'Earlier top three batters will score big runs, improve their average': R Ashwin believes Rohit Sharma's legacy is not winning tournaments but batting intent

R Ashwin noted that the top three batters in junior cricket have been told the score big runs and remain not out but Rohit Sharma's 'sefless cricket' will inspire them to change their approach in white-ball cricket.

Sports Tak

• Tue • 11 Mar 2025

India's Ravichandran Ashwin (L) reacts next to India's captain Rohit Sharma after taking a wicket during the ICC men's T20 World Cup 2022 against Netherlands at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on October 27, 2022.

Highlights:

Rohit Sharma scored a match-winning 76 in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final.

Rohit attacked the new-ball bowlers in the powerplay overs.

Ashwin hailed Rohit for playing selfless cricket instead of thinking about big scores.

India's legendary cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has praised captain Rohit Sharma for changing the batting frontier of the country's white-ball cricket with his intent. In the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Rohit attacked New Zealand pacers in the powerplay and got to his half-century from just 41 balls. Ashwin pointed out the difference between Rohit's knock a few days ago to the one in ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia in Ahmedabad.

“Against New Zealand Rohit Sharma has played a measured knock. It was not like Ahmedabad,” Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat.”

“The way he attacked Nathan Smith. He never let him came back into the game. His intent was so good."

Rohit's legacy

Ashwin said that Rohit changed his approach since the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal exit after facing 10-wicket loss to England. The 38-year-old feels Rohit's legacy is not winning ICC trophies or the IPL multiple times but changing the batters' approach.

“He has led by example since that 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss against England. If a captain is willing to risk his wicket in the middle, the players know that’s how they will have to play.

“Rohit’s biggest legacy is not about winning the tournaments. He has won five IPL titles with Mumbai Indians. He has now led India to back-to-back ICC titles. That’s not his legacy. Rohit Sharma has changed the batting frontier of Indian white-ball cricket. That is his biggest legacy,” he said.

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Ashwin on playing 'selfless cricket'

Ashwin pointed out that earlier the top order was about scoring big runs, something which is instilled in them in junior cricket but that is not the case anymore as batters cannot be selfish.

“He is a stalwart in ODI cricket. Actually he changed out cricketing thought process in the white-ball when it comes to the batting.

“Earlier it was to score big runs, remain not out. Please note this. In India the batting landscape was like this only, the top three batters will score big runs, they will improve their average.

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“The mindset is same even in the junior age-group, you stay not out and score big.

“I feel as a batter now in the ODIs and in the T20Is, you must play selfless cricket.

“With that regards Rohit Sharma has changed that mindset as a captain with the way he is playing and is asking his players to play the same way. May god be with him, he has been an absolute superstar for the Indian team,” he said.