Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Rohit Sharma is not batting at his best despite hitting a hundred in the second ODI against West Indies. The game took place on Wednesday, September 30, at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.
Chasing 406, Rohit Sharma, alongside Shubman Gill, added 255 runs for the opening wicket off 158 balls. Rohit smashed his 35th hundred and scored 101 off 75 balls, hitting 10 fours and six sixes. Shubman Gill finished with a brilliant 223* off 133 balls as India won by eight wickets with 39 balls remaining.

Talking about the veteran during a discussion on his YouTube channel (Ash ki Baat), Ashwin said: “If you ask me, is Rohit batting at his best? Maybe not. He is not batting at his best, but he is still that good. I’m saying this after noticing just one thing: he is not batting at his best because, sometimes, when the ball is coming into the line of the stumps, especially the length deliveries, he is trying to play that pickup shot and missing it quite often. He is getting beaten even on those balls that are landing on a good length.”

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“That is one area that some of the better fast bowlers will be able to exploit because he is having a little bit of trouble with back-of-a-length deliveries around the stumps. That is why his shoulder is turning slightly and his shape is getting affected, and he is looking towards the leg side a little bit. Rohit Sharma in good form stays in shape to the ball, and whenever the ball comes into his hitting zone, he hits it. He is looking for the pickup pull more often now, which is why I’m saying he is probably not batting at his best.”

After reaching his hundred in the second ODI, Rohit Sharma brought out an animated celebration with high jumps as well. Talking about the same, Ravichandran Ashwin said that he did so because he has proved wrong those who believed he wouldn’t make it to the 2027 World Cup as well.

“He celebrated because he has broken down everyone’s opinion, one by one. Everyone was saying that he couldn’t make it to the 2027 World Cup, and he is breaking that down one by one. And I really enjoyed watching that celebration because, you know, it was like a child celebrating. If, after reaching this age, after so many years and with so much experience, you can still celebrate like that, it tells all of us how much it means to him. Rohit Sharma’s innings yesterday was exceptional, unbelievable, and he knows what he is doing,” he concluded.