"Just see the scores in that period of time. Three double hundreds in the one-day game. He's got hundreds in T20 cricket," said Shastri.
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Former head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma would be remembered as a batting superstar for all time because of his tactical prowess, which puts him on par with the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni in white ball formats.
After leading India to victory over South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados, Rohit ended the country’s more than ten-year title drought in ICC competitions.
With 49 victories in 62 games, Rohit has surpassed former captain Dhoni to become the most successful T20I leader. In 72 games, Dhoni had guided India to 41 wins.
“As a tactician, let’s not forget that he’s (Rohit) been an outstanding guy. He’ll go down as one of the best captains ever alongside Dhoni,” Shastri said on the ICC Review.
In three ICC competitions, Dhoni led India to victory: the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the 2013 Champions Trophy, and the first-ever T20 World Cup in 2007.
“If you ask me who’s better, I’d say both are on par when it comes to tactics in the white-ball game. I can’t pay a bigger compliment to Rohit than that because you know what MS (Dhoni) has done and the titles he has won.”
“Rohit is not far behind and I thought tactically he was just outstanding in this year’s (T20) World Cup,” Shastri added.
During the Americas T20 World Cup, India, led by Rohit, won eight of their nine matches, with one ending in a draw.
“Just the calmness, the ability to get a (Jasprit) Bumrah or a (Hardik) Pandya, or even an Axar Patel at just the right time was great to see (in the T20 World Cup),” said Shastri.
When the Proteas needed just 30 runs off 30 balls to win the World Cup final, Rohit’s strategic genius was on full display as India produced an incredible comeback to defend the target.
Jasprit Bumrah, the pacer, bowled two tight overs; Hardik Pandya took a crucial wicket when it looked all was lost; and in the last over, Suryakumar Yadav produced a brilliant catch to remove David Miller.
In addition, Shastri lauded Rohit’s batting, calling him among the greatest white-ball players ever.
“I think a giant in the white-ball game. One of the all-time greats. One of the best who have ever played. Will walk into any white-ball team they pick, irrespective of the era. Just because of the dynamic ability he has at the top,” said Shastri about Rohit, who bowed out of T20Is following the World Cup success.
Apart from winning the ICC Champions Trophy (2013) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup twice (in 2007 and 2024), Rohit has amassed 14,846 runs, three double tons, 33 hundreds, and 87 fifties in ODIs and T20Is. He also holds the record for the most sixes in the shortest format.
“The thing with Rohit Sharma is he plays the big shots, he scores quickly, but they’re all cricketing shots. What amazes me, there’s not an element of sloppiness. I mean, it just shows how much time he has on his hands to play the best and the power — people forget that this man is explosive. He’s got power.”
With five T20I centuries, Rohit and Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell share the record for most with their combined physicality at the top of the order.
“Just see the scores in that period of time. Three double hundreds in the one-day game. He’s got hundreds in T20 cricket,” said Shastri.
He said that what set Rohit apart was his explosive batting and his mastery over short-pitched balls.
“Compared to Virat Kohli, you know, Kohli is more finesse, he’s starts along the ground. This man (Rohit) is explosive. He’s got the power to clear any ground in the world and take on the fast bowlers. He’s got the shots for the quicks and he can destroy spin as well.”
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