Rohit Sharma’s consistency: Rohit Sharma’s hundred in the second ODI against England has opened up the debate on whether he can sustain this level of performance at this stage of his career. The Indian captain, who had a forgettable Test season, was back in the groove with a powerful 119 off 90 balls in Cuttack. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, has questioned whether the 37-year-old can do this regularly because of the physical demands of ODI cricket.
Manjrekar’s Concerns About Rohit’s Fitness
While praising Rohit’s return to form, Manjrekar pointed out that the Indian captain looked visibly exhausted toward the end of his innings. He emphasized the toll that 50-over cricket takes on players, drawing a comparison with Virat Kohli’s fitness levels.
- “You could see it took a lot out of him. Fifty-over cricket can be physically demanding for bowlers, fielders, and batters. Virat Kohli knows how physically draining it can be, and that is why his fitness level allows him to get those hundreds by running the ones and twos,”* Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
Over the years, Rohit Sharma has transformed his approach to batting in ODIs. He used to start cautiously and then accelerate after crossing 100, which resulted in multiple double centuries. But of late, he has started playing aggressively right from the start, which helped India in the World Cup.
- In 2022, his strike rate for ODIs stood at 114.22.
- In 2023, with 27 ODIs, the strike rate touched 117.07.
- And in 2024, he has taken it further, striking at 141.44 in three ODIs.
Support and Praise for Rohit’s Knock
Manjrekar acknowledged the brilliance of both versions of Rohit—his 2019 self, which built big innings, and his 2023 self, which dominated attacks early. However, he expressed doubt about whether Rohit can maintain his current intensity consistently.
- “At this stage of his career, when you saw him score that big hundred, you could see he wanted it. But whether he can do it day in and day out like he did in 2019, we will have to wait and see. I have my doubts,”* he added.
Despite all the criticism about his fitness, Rohit’s knock received accolades from cricketing circles. England captain Jos Buttler admitted to his brilliance, saying, \”Credit to Rohit Sharma. He’s played an exceptional knock. He’s been playing like this in ODIs for a long time.\”
While there are debates regarding his long-term consistency, one thing is for sure: Rohit Sharma will remain a core member of the Indian team. His adaptability in ODIs has been crucial for the success of the team. Whether he can maintain this high-intensity approach over a full season is something that remains to be seen.
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