Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Rohit Sharma for his fine knock in the third ODI against South Africa at Vizag on Saturday. Rohit scored a brisk knock of 75 runs off just 73 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes in the run chase of 271.
Rohit added 155 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal and played a key role in India’s comprehensive nine-wicket win. The veteran batter was the aggressor and scored his 61st ODI half-century.
Rohit had also scored a decent knock of 57 runs in the opening game of the series at Ranchi.
“It doesn’t seem like the guy is slowing down. Of course, he is fitter, slimmer, meaner, and more into it at this point in time, but the way he batted, he looked in complete control. Till the time he played, it seemed like he was driving the game,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“It seemed like he would take us to the target without too much of a fuss. Rohit Sharma is in that kind of form. I felt he would score a century this time. He got out on 75. I felt Rohit’s hundred was certain this time. I was itching. I had said that Rohit’s hundred was pending,” he added.
On the other hand, former Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel highlighted that Rohit is batting with a different approach since Shubman Gill has taken over the captaincy baton in ODIs.
“Rohit Sharma started this series from where he left off on the Australia tour. You saw a half-century in the first match, and then you saw another half-century in the third match, and he is batting with a different approach since Shubman Gill has become the captain,” he said on Star Sports.
The former Gujarat captain said Rohit is getting more success with his old approach in the 50-over version.
“The vintage Rohit is being seen. He takes a little time, and then he goes towards a big knock. You saw that kind of approach again. I feel that when Rohit bats with this approach, you see a lot of calm, and you feel the old Rohit has returned. That’s why you are seeing greater consistency,” Parthiv observed.
Rohit will be next seen in action in the ODI series against New Zealand.
