India will need Rohit, who was an integral part of the 2013 CT team, to step on the gas, as they defend their title. The Mumbai batsman, who averages 41.37 in ODIs, can take inspiration from his 2013 CT performance
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy semi-final match vs Sri Lanka in Cardiff. Pic/Getty Images
Runs and consistent performances may not be Rohit Sharma's best friends of late. With a patchy showing in the ongoing IPL-10 (top scores of 58 vs Rising Pune Supergiant, 56* vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 40* vs Gujarat Lions), that zing in the Mumbai Indians skipper's batting has eluded him. Rohit's return to Team India for next month's Champions Trophy (CT) was an expected one after he recovered from a thigh injury he sustained during the final game of the five-match ODI against New Zealand last year.
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India will need Rohit, who was an integral part of the 2013 CT team, to step on the gas, as they defend their title. The Mumbai batsman, who averages 41.37 in ODIs, can take inspiration from his 2013 CT performance — same venue and conditions that will be on offer in the UK. Rohit was struggling with his form heading into the tournament, but still managed to put up a good show. Opening the batting with Shikhar Dhawan, who emerged the highest run-scorer with 363 runs, Rohit memerised the vociferous fans at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff with a sublime 81-ball 65 against South Africa in India's opening match. An unnecessary pull shot though cut short his innings. He continued his form into the next match against the West Indies at The Oval. Rohit was looking in good touch, but fell for a 56-ball 52. His first two innings involved successful 100-run partnerships with Dhawan. However, Rohit's next three innings - against Pakistan (18 runs), Sri Lanka (33) and in the final against England (nine runs) – were a far cry from his first two knocks.
With 177 runs in the tournament at 35.40, Rohit failed to capitalise on his good starts, getting dismissed playing erroneous shots. But a healthy strike rate of 75.96 did do some justice to his batting.
Rohit has a variety of shots in his armoury and is very flexible in the batting order as well. A cause for concern going into this year's edition will be his batting at the top.
Chief selector MSK Prasad has made it very clear that Rohit will open the innings with Dhawan. However, Rohit is still batting in the middle order for Mumbai Indians and will need some warm-up matches to get into the groove to open the innings.
The aggression and intent is there. The conversion rate, no doubt, needs to be high. If he can do that, the wily batsman can seal his place in the team.
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