As the Indian posed with their shiny new prize (the Champions Trophy), their captain moved away from the advancing cameras. Rohit Sharma, much like MS Dhoni, chooses to avoid the spotlight. When he eventually emerged, cantering joyously to the wicket, he yanked out a stump and broke into a jig. If it was ‘husna tera tauba, tauba’ in the afterglow of the recent T20 World Cup celebrations, this time Rohit and Virat Kohli broke into a cheeky dandiya dance.
The stumps were made to enact as bamboo sticks as the two legends, in the backdrop of percussive sounds, struck the sticks in a coordinated pattern that we see in their batting.
How times have changed. It’s been a whirlwind ride for Rohit, especially after New Zealand humiliated India in the Tests at home. At the start of the year, after a string of disappointing performances, he dropped himself for a Test in Australia, and his future with the team was hanging in the balance.
There were even whispers about whether he would lead India in this tournament. Fast forward a few months, and here he is, back on top, lifting a trophy again. A T20 World Cup victory in the Caribbean, followed by the Champions Trophy now, places Rohit just one notch below Dhoni as the most successful Indian captain in ICC events.
With all the retirement rumours floating around, Rohit chose to wrap up the press conference with a definitive statement. He made it abundantly clear that he was not retiring from ODIs. With that, he ensured that no one would be left speculating about his future, much to the relief of fans everywhere—who likely let out a collective sigh.
After a few lean patches, this victory was like a strong cup of espresso for Rohit—just the jolt he needed. He almost carried the team single-handedly, but not without the team giving everyone a few mini heart attacks along the way. As Rohit watched Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel head back to the dressing room, you could almost see the mental replay of his own dismissal playing on loop in his mind—talk about a not-so happy highlight reel.
Rohit’s exit came when he attempted to get a move on against the spinners, just as New Zealand was starting to gain control. After a strong start, he had slowed down a bit. On another day, the way he got out might have frustrated him, but not this time. India bat deep in ODIs and there is enough cover to manage the odd hiccups in the top-order.
In recent times, Rohit has opted for a more proactive method at the top of the order. He revealed that taking the bull by the horns was part of the team’s strategy.
While this was not quite his natural style, he was keen to move out his comfort zone in the team’s interest. He has the backing of his coaches, whether it was from Rahul Dravid during the 2023 World Cup or Gautam Gambhir now. He pointed out that the depth in the batting lineup, especially with someone like Jadeja coming in at eight, gave him the freedom. As long as he was clear in his mind, he was ready to go for it—after all, what’s cricket without a little daring?
When Rohit was dismissed, it felt like déjà vu, a repeat of Ahmedabad 2023. Once again, he was in the midst of something special before he brought about his own downfall. But this time, there was no heartbreak, just a happy ending.
While he didn’t score a century, his match-winning knock was far more significant. It added yet another silverware to India’s white-ball achievements, while fuelling fans with the belief that there was more to follow.
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