Indian batter Hanuma Vihari questioned the team management and selectors for putting Rohit Sharma’s place in question. It was earlier reported that Rohit would play his final ODI game at Lord’s, but he answered the critics in style. However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia downplayed such speculations.
Rohit scored a brilliant knock of 138 runs off 110 balls in the third ODI at the iconic venue on Sunday as he became the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s. However, his efforts went in vain as India could not chase down a gargantuan total of 388 runs and lost the series by 2-1.
The veteran batter scored 17 fours and five sixes in his blistering knock as he batted at the top of his game.
Vihari hailed Rohit for playing a superb knock under pressure and once again proving his mettle.
“Rohit Sharma’s class is permanent. Form is definitely temporary. I am saying the same thing again. Why are you questioning him and raising rumours that are not true? He is your match-winner, even if he will be 40 by the time of the World Cup. He has proven time and again that he has the experience to score runs. To score that century at 39, chasing 388, it is not a normal thing. The way he played, he was not in his best form, but still got a century. In a World Cup, character is important, and that is Rohit Sharma,” Hanuma Vihari said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Vihari reckons Indian skipper Shubman Gill was struggling with his bowling changes after having only five main bowlers in the final ODI. India went on to concede an above-par score of 387 runs on the board.
“Talking about Gill’s captaincy, having just five bowlers in the last ODI, he was struggling with his bowling changes. When everyone was getting hit, not having a sixth option became a concern for him. You should also know how to handle things when this option is not there. Whether it is field placement or bowling changes, I feel he has to improve. He has a lot to improve in captaincy. His batting is outstanding, but he has to get better as captain because the results are not coming,” he said.
The Indian batter believes the playing combination is not set properly by the team management, which is leading to the side’s downfall.
“India are lacking only because of the combination, and the playing combination is not set correctly. Why was Kuldeep left out? It is something that I cannot understand. Going with youth in T20s is still fine, but here you have to go with experience. India has so many such players. Seeing the IPL, you feel there are many new players, but match-winners are very few, and you have to pick those match-winners. If you have winning the World Cup in mind, you will pick experienced players and those who know how to win games,” Hanuma Vihari explained.
India will next take on Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series, starting Thursday.
