Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes Rohit Sharma should not be satisfied with just scoring 25-30 runs. Gavaskar emphasizes that Sharma needs to concentrate on creating substantial innings, as his presence on the field can significantly change the game for India.
In One Day International cricket, the Indian team captain has adopted an aggressive style to give India a fast start. However, this approach often leads to him getting out early. His highest score in the current Champions Trophy is 41 runs against Bangladesh in the first match.
Gavaskar stated to India Today, “(If) Rohit Sharma bats for even 25 overs, India’s score will be around 180-200. Imagine if they have only lost a couple of wickets by then; think about what they could achieve. They could reach 350 or more.”
He added, “Rohit needs to consider this. It’s good to be aggressive, but there should be some judgment to give himself the opportunity to bat for 25-30 overs. If he does that, he can dominate the opposition. That kind of impact wins matches.” In the tournament, Rohit’s scores have been 20, 15, and 28 against Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia, respectively.
Gavaskar further commented, “And as a batsman, should you be happy with scoring 25-30 runs? You shouldn’t be! So, I would advise him that his contribution to the team will be much greater if he bats for 25 overs instead of just seven, eight, or nine overs.”
Nasser Hussain Supports New Zealand
India and New Zealand are set to play again in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday, after their previous match in the group stage in Dubai.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain is supporting New Zealand to win. He believes the New Zealand team has resilient cricketers who will not falter under pressure.
Hussain told Sky Sports, “They won’t choke or lose their nerve. Aaron Finch [former Australia batter] and I were having dinner, and he perfectly summed it up by saying New Zealand is never a team that defeats itself. He meant they will always show up and perform well.”
“Throughout the New Zealand lineup, they have very tough cricketers who perform their best in every game. This is why they are consistently around the semi-finals and finals,” Hussain concluded.
