Rohit, a mix of substance & style

INDIA Extras Total FoW Bowling BANGLADESH Extras Total FoW Bowling

DECCAN CHRONICLE In the era of the big hitters, Rohit Sharma has a unique record as the only scorer of two double hundreds in ODIs. And yet, in terms of the power and force of big hitting versus style in caressing the ball, Rohit Sharma is very much a member of the second category. He is eminently watchable when he is on song and easing the ball into the gaps with a sense of timing that sets apart batsmen with certain style to them.

As he failed in the preliminary league save for one innings, Rohit gave the impression that a big one was just round the corner. This is the reason why so many captains have backed him for so long, reposing absolute faith in a player whose fundamentals are so outstanding that his failures used to be puzzling rather than condemnatory.

The feeling that he would make the big one soon persisted and if he did so on the bigger knockout stage the better for Team India. He was prepared to buckle in and work for his runs on Thursday, which should fetch him big marks for temperament, failings in which had marred his early record.

541 Kumar Sangakkara (SL)

433 Brendan Taylor (ZIM)

417 AB de Villiers (SA)

395 Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)

367 Shikhar Dhawan (IND) There were strokes after his century that showed what class can do when it comes to forcing the pace without having to abandon the elegance of strokeplay.

The one piece of luck that invariably comes a batsman’s way was Rohit’s when he mishit a dipping full toss straight down mid wicket’s throat, but umpire Aleem Dar at square leg had his right hand up for the height ‘No Ball’ in what seemed a decision taken in a hurry. Rohit was extremely lucky to be reprieved thus. His innings would, however, have been a great one even if he had been given out. So restrained and workmanlike had he been. This was the substance over style phase but before the day was out we saw the stylist in flow too making it a perfect half day of watching Rohit’s willow perform its magic.

HIGHEST SCORE Chris Gayle