Former Indian skipper Gautam Gambhir hailed Rohit Sharma's selfless leadership and game approach in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Rohit once again brought his A game to the fore in India's World Cup clash against defending champions England in Lucknow's Ekana stadium on Sunday, October 29. Rohit played a robust 87-run knock to help India recover from a shaky start.
Leading the Men in Blue, Rohit has so far accumulated an impressive 398 runs in six matches, one of which was a blistering century against Afghanistan. His aggressive approach, laced with impeccable timing and sheer class, has been a nightmare for opposition bowlers. Instead of playing for personal milestones, Rohit seems to have adopted a strategy to capitalise on scoring opportunities, even if it means risking his wicket for the team's greater good. His bold approach is evident in his striking strike rate of 119.16 in the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of Rohit's sensational show in the ongoing ODI World Cup, former India skipper Gautam Gambhir hailed Hitman's batting exploits. However, Gambhir's remarks about Rohit have fueled some heated debates among fans and experts alike. In a conversation with Star Sports, Gambhir said, "Rohit Sharma would've got 40-45 hundreds by now, but he's not obsessed with hundreds. He's selfless."
While on the surface, this appears to be a straightforward compliment appreciating Rohit's leadership and playstyle, some fans have read between the lines. A section of cricket enthusiasts believes that Gambhir's emphasis on "not being obsessed with hundreds" might be an indirect jibe at batting juggernaut Virat Kohli.
The comparison between Rohit and Virat is not new. The two have been weighed against each other in terms of captaincy style, batting techniques, and, most prominently, records. Virat Kohli boasts an enviable ODI record, with only Sachin Tendulkar ahead of him. In the ongoing World Cup alone, Kohli has delivered with three half-centuries and a century. He stands tall with 48 ODI centuries to his name.
However, Gambhir's comments hint at a contrast between playing for individual records and sacrificing for the team's cause. Whether his praise for Rohit's selfless attitude was meant to subtly critique Kohli's approach or was just an isolated compliment remains a matter of interpretation.
THIS IS HOW FANS REACTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA…
Meanwhile, where Rohit ended up scoring an impressive 87, Kohli recorded his first ever duck in the World Cup history in the match against England on Sunday. In a total of six matches played so far in the ongoing World Cup, Kohli has garnered 354 runs riding on a blistering century against Bangladesh few days back.
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