Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has applauded Rohit Sharma for putting opposition bowlers on the back foot with his aggressive batting in the 2023 World Cup. However, Sharma hit 61 runs off 54 balls to lay the foundation for India’s total of 410/4 in their final league match against the Netherlands in Bengaluru on Sunday. And, then they eventually won the game by 160 runs to maintain their all-win record in the tournament so far as well.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Finch said: “They are both so very different. Even though they are both right-handers, their strengths are so extreme at times. I think Rohit is setting the tone. He has allowed Shubman Gill to almost get in his slipstream because he is going so hard.”
The former Australia opener further added: “That puts opposition bowling attacks on the backfoot before you have even bowled a ball. You run into bowl thinking you have to bowl a perfect ball to either get Rohit out or keep him quiet. He is running down the wicket in the first or second over, so there are just no options for the opposition bowlers to go to.”
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However, Rohit Sharma has scored 503 runs which came at an excellent strike rate of 121.49 in his nine innings in the ongoing World Cup. Although he has scored only one century, he has given stunning starts to the team more often than not as well.
While talking about Rohit Sharma’s innings against the Netherlands, former India player Mohammad Kaif added that the Indian skipper is leading by example. He also praised Shubman Gill for complementing Rohit brilliantly. Gill smashed 51 runs off just 32 deliveries and added 100 runs with Rohit in 11.5 overs as well.
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He said: “There is a difference between a captain and a leader. He is absolutely a leader. The openers laid the foundation and then KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer took advantage of it. He has started to drive straight down the ground. No one gives him a ball to pull now because he plays the short ball very well. So they are pitching it up to him and there he is hitting it straight. Gill also played well. Both batters attacked together. 400 runs were scored because of the platform they gave.”
