Rohit Sharma: Not a talent to be wasted

The Mumbai nursery has been the cradle of Indian batting, feeding the team with batsmen of quality every generation. The side has won the nation’s premier domestic competition almost half the times the championship has been played. At any point of time, Mumbai will have one or two representatives in the national squad and time and again the Mumbaikars had been the nucleus of the side.

The list of India’s top batsmen includes two legends from Mumbai in the top two places. Sachin Tendulkar was compared to Sir Don by the man himself and holds almost every record in batting cards in both tests and ODIs, barring a few. He has been the face of Indian team for nearly two decades. Tendulkar’s idol Sunil Gavaskar was the face of the side in the two decades before the Master Blaster made his name. In fact, for many a wise cricket fan, Gavaskar is the best batsman to be produced from India.

The two men have carried the flame of Mumbai’s batting long and high with distinction. If this was not enough, the other names in the list of top ten batsmen of India – Dilip Vengsarkar, Vijay Merchant, Ajit Wadekar, Dileep Sardesai, Vijay Manjrekar, Polly Umrigar are all proven giants in the annals of Indian cricket, from the city of Mumbai.

Learning from the Master

Ever since Tendulkar established himself, none of the Mumbai batsmen were able to cement their place in the team permanently. Sanjay Manjrekar failed to live up to his father’s potential. Pravin Amre could not manage the rigours of Indian team. Vinod Kambli, despite being touted to be as good, if not more talented than Tendulkar, lost his battle of conduct and fell out. Amol Mazumdar was unlucky to be born in a wrong era.

After a long while, one Mumbai batsman who has found a place in the team on a more regular basis, has been Rohit Sharma. He made his debut against South Africa in the World T20 that India went on to win, and in his very first outing made a good fifty to lead India to a par score on a tough pitch. His shots stood out on the day. Unlike his compatriots and competitors, Rohit’s game oozed class from day one.

His journey to the national side was rather quick. He had a rare chance of making his debut away from home when he played for India A against New Zeland A and he made a strong statement with a good fifty on a wicket where even established giants of Domestic cricket failed. His game was suited to both formats of cricket and was he soon made his debut for the Indian team in ODIs with just a single season of domestic cricket behind him. However, it was the T20 debut that showcased his ability to the world.

His first innings of repute in ODIs was when he batted with Tendulkar to lead India to a win in the Finals of CB series. He matched the Master in shots and made his presence felt despite playing alongside the greatest name to have played for India. If Tendulkar was Bhishma on that day for all his experience and class, Rohit was a worthy Abhimanyu playing alongside Bhishma. However, since that innings, he hasn’t displayed his batting talent for a sustained period of time.

A string of below par performances saw him being in and out of the ODI side. Every time he displayed his extravagant talent with a shot or two that brought nostalgia of the craftsmen of Mumbai with the bat, he would soon perish, throwing his wicket away at an inopportune moment. This has led to his downfall almost every single time.

During 2009-10, when the team was gambling to find a solid middle order for the World Cup at home a year later, Rohit repeatedly got chances, only to flounder them again and again. Unlike the case of someone like Raina, Rohit’s problem was not his technique, which is the soundest in younger generation batsmen, but his temperament which left a lot to be desired.

Even in IPL, Rohit more often than not displayed his abilities for a brief period before he threw his wicket to deliveries that does not deserve his wicket. He did win a lot of matches from unbelievable situations yet he failed when the stage was set for him to roll on. In domestic leagues too there had been very few innings to justify the talent that he is. A triple century and a century in both the innings in Finals, are too few examples of his master class.

His cover drives and pulls would leave most of the best in business gasping. He has such an authority in his shots that little can a bowler do when he is in flow. It’s unfortunate that such authoritative periods do not last more than a few overs. He missed the chance of being a part of the World Cup winning squad and he alone is the one to blame for failing to make the best of opportunities.

His chance of grabbing a Test spot was the only time when fate intervened. All set to make his debut against South Africa in early 2010, Rohit injured himself moments before the toss and Wriddhiman Saha won his cap, only to fail to convert the golden opportunity himself. Once again, against Australia last year, Rohit was not given an opening in the test side despite poor display by the famed batsmen. But then, he should have established himself a la Kohli since he got so many chances to play for Team India.

Now the time is ripe for him to make the mark. With a few spots open in the test side right now and in near future, Rohit is on the radar of selectors. Yet, in the India A’s ongoing tour to West Indies, he has failed to do justice for his talent, with only a single innings of note in 4 chances at the crease. One sincerely hopes that he makes the most of it in the two more innings left in the tour and win a spot in the test side.

His competition is tough. Yet, he is only one who can win a place in all three formats of the game. Pujara is more suited for the longer format if his game is an indication. Raina has been found out in tests and will be a regular fixture in ODIs. Rahane and Tiwary are yet to prove themselves in International cricket. Rohit, on the other hand, has seen it all. He has been the part of ODI side for 5 seasons despite his inability to cement a place. Unlike others, he has been picked purely for his talent than for his performances.

It is high time he proves the selectors right. Not many players get so many chances as Rohit and that has got more to do with the talent he has rather than the weightage of runs under his belt. He has two examples to follow from his own city. He can look onto Tendulkar or Kambli. I hope that Rohit Gurunath Sharma ends up his career under the list headed by Tendulkar rather than Kambli. He is too precious a talent to be wasted.