Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked debate by claiming that ODI captain Rohit Sharma does not feature in the list of all-time Indian batting greats. Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Manjrekar argued that while legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli define batting greatness in Indian cricket, Rohit falls just short of that elite bracket.
“Rohit Sharma does not fit in the All-Time Indian Batting Great list because we’re talking about legends like Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid, and Virat. Rohit does not quite make it there,” Sanjay Manjrekar stated. However, he praised Rohit’s leadership qualities and unselfish approach, especially in ODIs, where his tactical acumen has earned him immense respect.
Statistically, Rohit Sharma’s career has been nothing short of remarkable, particularly in white-ball cricket. The “Hitman” is India’s third-highest and overall fourth-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, amassing 1,575 runs in 28 matches at an average of 60.57. His record-breaking five centuries in the 2019 World Cup made headlines globally as he scored 648 runs in nine games at an average of 81. In the 2023 edition, Rohit carried his form forward, smashing 597 runs in 11 matches at a blistering strike rate of over 125, cementing his status as one of the finest ODI openers of his era.
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Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted Rohit’s selfless leadership during that tournament, saying, “After the 2023 World Cup, the love people have for him is on another level. He was never thinking about himself, only about the team’s advantage. That’s his real specialty.”
While Rohit’s ODI numbers are legendary—11,168 runs in 273 ODIs at an average of 48.76, including three double centuries, a world record—Manjrekar emphasised that Test cricket often defines all-time greats. Rohit retired from Tests earlier this year with 4,301 runs in 67 matches, averaging 40.57. Though he produced memorable innings, including a 212 against South Africa in 2019, his overall impact in red-ball cricket is seen as less dominant.
In T20Is, Rohit stands unparalleled, holding the record for the most runs (4,231) and most sixes (205) in the format’s history. He also remains the only batter with five T20I centuries and once blasted India’s fastest T20I ton in 35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017.
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Now exclusively focused on ODIs, Rohit continues to be India’s batting mainstay, with 19,700 international runs across formats. At 38, his calm demeanour, selfless captaincy, and unmatched ability to dominate white-ball cricket ensure that his name remains etched among the modern greats, even if the debate over “all-time greatness” continues.
