An open letter to Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

Dear Rohit,

There are only a few players who are not only talented but are also gifted. They have a charm that soothes the eye and their impression is one that is not easily forgotten. On such players, we bestow great expectations. One such player is you, Rohit Sharma, popularly known as the Hitman of Indian Cricket.

You have immense talent, which if ‘justified’ could make your name be remembered as long as the game lives. When you bat, it appears like poetry in motion. Your square drive is one we can watch all day, your straight drive forces us to jump on our feet and your hook shot is just amazing, probably an answer to every person who thinks Indian batsman cannot hook. Your fielding is no less. You are one among the brand of those new Indian fielders who have raised the level of athleticism shown on the field. You are even handy as a part-time bowler who could chip in with important wickets.

Adding the cherry to the cake is your captaincy style. Taking over the reins of Mumbai Indians from, one of the legendary captain of cricket, Ricky Pointing could not have been an easy task. The pressure upon you to deliver must have been humongous, but you delivered. Mumbai Indians became champions twice and both times under your captaincy. As for the second IPL triumph – coming back from 4 consecutive losses at the start of the tournament to becoming the champion is a mammoth achievement. Such wins depict the character of the captain, his fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude.

All the above facts show that you are a complete package. But there is a pinch. What makes us perplexed is why you are not justifying your talent. You scored 264 against Sri Lanka, a world class bowling attack – a feat which even AB De Villiers and Chris Gayle would find hard to beat on the best days of their lifes. But you did it. In addition, this was your second double ton in ODIs.

That which you lack is consistency. I am not asking you to score a 100 every time you come out to bat; no one can do that. Even Sir Donald Bradman couldn't do that. You take your time initially, get set and as we feel that you are in for a biggie, you throw your wicket away. What hurts even more is that you throw your wicket on a ball that deserved to be hit and on a shot which, frankly, a gully cricketer wouldn't even suggest.

You have been given chances to prove your talent. You show patches of brilliant performances accompanied by a consistency-plagued Rohit. The BCCI, the captain and the whole of India have been patient with you for a long period but now that patience is wearing off.

The time is ripe for an overhaul of sorts – a World Cup has just gone by, and the incumbent captain is on his last innings, however long that lasts.

Gear up, tighten you belts and take the centre stage. Be brave and break the shackles that hold you back. Play the cricket that flows in your veins, the cricket for which you are made. Just wash out the last black spot on the face of your rare talent and let the world see your true colours. Go out there and show the world that there might have been one Bradman and one Tendulkar, but there will also be only one Rohit Sharma.