The onus could well be on Rohit Sharma when 39-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai kick off their campaign against Saurashtra at the Mumbai Cricket Association ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex today
The onus could well be on Rohit Sharma when 39-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai kick off their campaign against Saurashtra at the Mumbai Cricket Association ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex today.
"Performance in the Ranji Trophy helped Rohit earn his India cap and I am sure he will do well this season as well. He is a key player in our campaign," Mumbai coach Praveen Amre told MiD DAY on match eve yesterday.
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| Rohit Sharma at the Bandra Kurla Complex nets yesterday. PIC/NIMESH DAVE |
The young batting stalwart will do well to score big in the absence of last season's highest run-scorer Ajinkya Rahane, who is recovering from injury.
However, Sharma has been struggling with form and fitness. He is coming to the end of his fourth year in one-day international cricket.
But only two centuries and five fifties do not do justice to his class. The 23-year-old managed to score only 152 runs in his last eight ODIs.
Overall, his most notable performance came during the 2009-10 triangular series in Zimbabwe where he scored a couple of tons and also broke the 19-match period in which he didn't pass 50.
However, with only 10 ODIs before the World Cup, time may be running out for Rohit to keep his place in the Indian team with youngsters stepping on the gas.
Dinesh Lad, Rohit's first coach, felt he should play without any pressure. "Rohit's strength is his aggression. I suspect he is playing under pressure and his mind is cluttered. Every player goes through this phase in life, but I am sure he'll will come out shining," said Lad.
