Rohit Sharma and the talent problem

Gautam Gambhir thinks that Rohit Sharma has immense potential and his talent can’t be overlooked. He’s totally true on his part, but Rohit Sharma hasn’t proved Gambhir right. He was offered adequate amount of chances in the Common Wealth Bank Series, and again in Sri Lanka he played the entire five-match ODI series but wasn’t able to make a substantial contribution. If Manoj Tiwary would have got his chance, then certainly India would have fancied their chances in the World Twenty20. Or even, Robin Uthappa who is an aggressive player and should have been given a chance in the World Twenty20.

Rohit Sharma has gone through tough patches in his cricketing career and emerged as a very fine player in 2010-11. He played a part in India’s bilateral Series win at Sri Lanka, New Zealand in 2010 and also he was the only man apart from Badrinath to have handled short-pitched deliveries.

On March 2 2008, he played a very handy innings of 66 along with Sachin Tendulkar. He came in at 87-3 and initially just kept the scoreboard ticking. Once he got settled on a track that favoured the spinners, he bashed the Aussie spinners all-round the park. He was also involved in a crucial century partnership stand with Sachin, which ultimately helped India inch closer towards victory.

Also in that particular series, Rohit Sharma’s career best came against Sri Lanka in a crucial match where he gave India a fair bit of chance of making it to the best-of-three finals.

Indeed, it’s the kind of start Uthappa also had as he had been the key performer for India in the inaugural Twenty20 championship. He had also emerged as India’s greatest finishers after Twenty20 World Cup 2007 as he had been India’s crucial No.7 batsmen. But he hasn’t been in the spotlight after India’s bilateral Series win in 2010 because of his poor form in that particular series. However, let’s back Uthappa to make a come-back as he can out-think top-class sides on any given day, given the form and talent he possesses.

When India toured Zimbabwe in 2010 for a triangular series which involved Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma brought up his maiden ODI century against Sri Lanka. An outstanding series in Zimbabwe cemented his place permanently in the squad and no other young batsman looked like replacing him, given the form he was in.

Now, from the time when Duncan Fletcher took over as Indian Coach, every player including Rohit Sharma has lost his old rhythm. He totally changed the tactics of the Indian batsman which lead to a collapse in England as well as in Australia. Duncan Fletcher changed Virender Sehwag into a Test Cricketer. Sehwag usually starts the Indian innings with a four, but that wasn’t the case under Duncan Fletcher as he has changed the batting attitude of Virender Sehwag.

Also, in the tour of Windies (2011) under Raina, India clinched the ODI series, but not in most convincing fashion. India had almost made a mess of chasing small targets in the third and fourth ODI as the middle order collapsed in a heap. However, Rohit Sharma ensured India did not make a mess of small target as he single-handedly guided India to victory. Despite the victory, India did not achieve the target in a most convincing fashion. India during the 15th-35th over progressed slowly and from 35th over they took on the attack to West Indian pacers. When asked about this to Raina, he said that, it was a part of Duncan Fletcher’s technique. “He told us to not to lose wickets in the middle part of the innings and then take stock from the batting power play” he added. If he continues to change the attitude of each player and the skipper Dhoni, then each player would slowly start losing his old rhythm and would certainly find it difficult to make a come-back.

This is what has happened with Rohit Sharma and he should be given a break. He should play lot of County Cricket in England which would help in regaining his form back. After two years, draft him into the side, then without a shred of doubt you will see a different Rohit Sharma. Lot of cricketers have been to England and regained their form back, and then came out with some magical innings for their respective sides.

However, for Rohit Sharma to regain his form, he has to play lot of Test Cricket. Test Cricket gives adequate exposure to cricketers who have lost their form and if Rohit Sharma can produce quality innings in Test Cricket, then MS Dhoni has to work with him to see where he’s going wrong in the limited overs format of the game. Or else, he has to be given a break for two years! If he’s given a break, then India’s promising cricketers Tiwary and Uthappa would get a chance to prove their talent and help India in achieving victories against high-quality sides.