Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma’s assertive batting style has significantly eased the path for other batsmen in the team Playing XI in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where India secured victory in all nine of their tournament league games.
head of the upcoming semi-final against New Zealand, scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium on November 15, Sharma, alongside Shubman Gill, provided a dynamic start, amassing 100 runs in the first powerplay overs against the Netherlands.
Sharma’s noteworthy contribution included a 61-run score, featuring 8 fours and 2 sixes in Bengaluru. The Indian team posted a formidable total of 410/4, with centuries from Shreyas Iyer (128) and KL Rahul (102). The Netherlands, in response, were bowled out for 250, resulting in a 160-run victory for the host nation and thus remained undefeated in the league phase.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik has praised Rohit’s batting prowess, emphasizing his unique impact on opponents. “He beats all the bowlers of the rival team. Rohit is different from Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root,” Malik commented on ASports.
Drawing an analogy, he likened Rohit to an Arabic teacher who commands respect, stating, “We had a Arbi (Arabic) teacher and the students used to get up the moment he came to the class. Rohit is like that Arbi teacher. The rivals get up the moment he comes out to bat.”
While it will be the two semi-finalists from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 who will face off again in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Semi-Final 1, the other Semi-Final match will be played between the 2nd placed South Africa and 3rd placed Australia in Kolkata on the 16th of November.
