There is no doubt in my mind that among the youngsters who will dominate the Indian batting line-up in the future Rohit Sharma is the guy to watch out for. If I have to define talent in this Indian team, I’d direct you all to him.
Here is the problem though. Ganguly retired in 2008. Mukund, M Vijay, Pujara, Raina, Kohli, Badri all made their tests debuts post Ganguly’s retirement. Barring M Vijay who debuted in 2008, the rest made their debuts 2010 onwards.
Rohit made his ODI debut in 2007; among the above, only Raina hit the ODI scene before him. Kohli made his debut after Rohit and cemented his place in the ODI squad first. He then became the obvious choice for No6 bat in tests when Yuvi and Raina failed to make it their own and Pujara got injured.
There is this huge talk about how grave injustice has been done by not giving Rohit a single test chance when others have got a lot more chances and about how ODI performance should not determine a test place – I agree to the latter not the former. Why was Rohit overlooked in that period when 4 middle-order bats were tried out?
The problem was – With the big 4 hogging the middle order for over a decade how was one supposed to announce his arrival? The only way to show you were ready to take their place was by performing at an international level. “A” tours would’ve been ideal – but the reality was that they were not held enough. So what should’ve have been your next move? Grab every opportunity you get , cause unfortunately and whether you like it or not – how you performed in the ODIs (that you got to play when you were not getting a breakthrough in tests) would’ve have helped in some manner to build the confidence of selectors and team management in you.
Rohit wasted 3 crucial years cementing his place in the ODI squad ( he still hasn’t) and as a result did not earn a WC place – a place that should have been rightfully his.
Every time Rohit comes to bat I feel he is going to get a big score but somewhere I know the lad is going to bring out his Mr. “Inconsistent” Hyde and gift his wicket. Every time Virat starts with a strike rate of 50, I think he looks edgy but deep down I know he is going to build his innings and play it out till the end like he has done in the last 2 years.
In my opinion along with his inconsistency Rohit suffers with a perception management problem. He gives his management the impression that he is just plain lazy, that he does not know how to grind it out in the middle and take responsibility despite being the most gifted.
Kohli on the other hand knows he is not half as talented as Rohit is; but has built up a perception to his management that he is their go-to-guy and he will do the task no matter what.
When faced with the same challenges and given their talent or capabilities – we all know Rohit should be excelling and getting the promotions on the job, but the fact is that he is not.
And that is not Kohli’s problem, it is Rohit’s!
The reason that Rohit Sharma has not made his Test debut when Virat Kohli has already fixed his spot (for the time being, at least) in the team is actually a combination of not capitalising on chances as also luck.
Rohit Sharma was set for his Test debut, alongwith S Badrinath, against South Africa in the Nagpur Test of 2010. But in a cruel twist of fate, he injured himself on the morning of the 1st day of the Test, and handed over his spot to Wriddhiman Saha, who played as a specialist batsman.
Over the same year of 2010, Virat Kohli became India’s top-scorer for the year in ODIs (2nd highest overall) and earned his World Cup spot. Later in 2010, Pujara impressed on debut to be the first-choice replacement for Raina, when the latter was to be dropped on the South African tour. And when Pujara was injured in the IPL, it was Kohli who took that place for the West Indies tour.
Both Kohli and Pujara capitalised on their chances quickly enough to inspire confidence in the team management to persist with them. That is one of the biggest reason why Kohli was not dropped after a couple of failures in the Tests in Australia. Rohit Sharma, as you rightly stated, did not capitalise on the head start he had over Kohli.
I don’t know about the perception that he creates, for that is his batting style. India has played a batsman with similar lazy elegance in VVS Laxman for over a decade, and so can understand that that is Rohit Sharma’s style, and not his fault! But throwing away his chances is his fault… and for that, he is where he is and not where he ought to be!
Shridhar, I think we agree:) Yes I know Rohit was all set to debut when he rolled over and injured his ankle. Yes it was tragic and we are still saying the same thing about him – it is tragic. That is my problem.
I’ve no issues that he is lazy elegant – that’s the enormous talent he has been gifted with. I never said that’s his fault – I’m saying the same what you said – he has not fought his luck enough after that missed chance – should’ve been more determined to breakthrough into the team over anyone else given he is the best bloke around the block. That is his fault.
And that last line – well put 🙂