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Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag (File Photo, Twitter)
Former legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag has come with all praises for Indian skipper and star batter Rohit Sharma for the latter’s iconic performance in India’s second ODI World Cup 2023 match against Afghanistan. Rohit smashed a swashbuckling century and scored 131 runs off just 84 balls, with 16 fours and 5 sixes with the willow.
Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag also recalled the time when Rohit Sharma was not picked in India’s squad for the ODI World Cup 2011, 12 years ago. Notably, that edition of the ODI World Cup was also played in India. There was a lot of debate on Rohit Sharma’s omission from the World Cup squad, but India eventually won and lifted the title after 28 years.
"Maybe that snub motivated him to become more consistent." - Virender Sehwag on Rohit Sharma
Apart from that, Sehwag also claimed what he would’ve done if he had been in any position like a selector or a coach.
“If I had been the captain or a selector, I would have surely picked him for the 2011 World Cup. But at that time, he was not the Rohit Sharma that he is right now. He was a bit young and at the end of the day, it is the decision of the captain and selectors as to the team balance that they want,” said Sehwag to Cricbuzz.
“Maybe that snub motivated him to become more consistent and he realized that he had to score so many runs that he would never miss a World Cup again. You can only select 15 players for a World Cup and at that point, Yusuf Pathan had a couple of crucial innings just before the tournament that is, what maybe worked in his favour and Rohit Sharma had to be left out,” he added later.
While lavishing praise on Rohit Sharma for his sensational and record-breaking century against Afghanistan, Virender Sehwag said, “Rohit Sharma gave a clear message with his innings that score big hundreds even today he scored 30 more runs after getting to his hundred has already scored three double centuries. So it gives the opposition a clear message that if he settles at the crease for a long time, he will not spare you. He mathematically missed the double century even today (Laughs).”