Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra praised Rohit Sharma for scoring 79 runs off 69 balls in the third ODI against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday. In the first two ODIs against the visitors, Rohit had returned with scores of 16 and 48 but smashed nine fours and three maximums.

Rohit scored his 62nd ODI fifty as he changed gears after getting off to a sedate start. The Indian veteran added a fine opening alliance of 170 runs off 137 balls with Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

“Why was this knock important? In fact, when you saw him playing at the start, you realized that he was serious about it. Yashasvi Jaiswal had played eight balls in the first over, and 23 runs were scored, including the five penalty runs, and Yashasvi was off the blocks. However, Rohit said he plays only one format now, and the next match will come only after a month,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“He missed a half-century in the last match. He said, ‘Let me just take my time.’ He allowed the ball to come to him. Missed out on a century, and he was not happy because it wasn’t a wicket-taking ball. It was a half-tracker, and he hit it straight into the hands. A hundred was there for the taking. It didn’t happen, but it’s okay,” he added.

The former Delhi cricketer noted that Rohit took Rashid Khan to the cleaners after he was dismissed by Afghanistan’s ace spinner in the last game.

“Who was the most difficult bowler in the opposing team? That was Rashid Khan. Rashid Khan conceded 51 runs in six overs, and Rohit Sharma hit 42 of those. He took down one guy properly, although he had dismissed him in the previous match,” he said.

“The shots he hit over midwicket by lifting his back leg, then the six he hit with a pull, and the shot over cover, that was outstanding. Rohit Sharma, also the fielder in the slips. He took three catches. The passion to contribute constantly becomes a habit,” Chopra observed.

Rohit will be next seen in action in the ODI series against England.