Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja showered praise on Rohit Sharma after the Men in Blue defeated New Zealand by four wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday.
Chasing 252 runs for the win, Rohit led from the front and scored a crucial knock of 76 runs off just 83 balls. The Indian opener added 105 runs with Shubman Gill for the opening alliance and took the attack against New Zealand’s bowlers in the Powerplay overs.
Sharma smashed seven fours and three sixes in his blistering knock and was awarded Player of the Match in the summit clash.
“Some skills are a blessing as well and this has been seen right from the start (with Rohit). He hits sixes with his timing, he does not hit the ball hard. His sixes are from point till deep fine leg. He plays everywhere. So where will you escape as a bowler? If a batter hits in only place then you try to not bowl there but if you give Rohit room he will hit you over point, he hits over covers, he hits straight as well and the way he picks seamers, if you pick the length where will the seamers go?,” Jadeja said on the ‘Dressing Room Show’.
Jadeja said Rohit took the game away from New Zealand in the Powerplay overs as he adopted an aggressive approach.
“Rohit Sharma literally finished it (the run chase). If anything had to happen in the game, spin would play a part in the middle and you could back the opposition there. But the start that India got, New Zealand were only catching up after that. Rohit did not allow the seamers to come into the game at all. The game was gone from New Zealand by that stage. Later it looked as though they fought back a bit but those starting overs had made the game clear (for India),” he added.
On the other hand, former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram lauded Rohit Sharma for his aggressive approach and said he batted effortlessly.
“Just over four years, in the powerplay, Rohit Sharma has hit 70 sixes in the powerplay. And even today the way he was batting. Slightly behind and slightly outside, I mean effortless. He has a lot of time and this is a natural thing,” he said.
Rohit will be next seen in action for Mumbai Indians.
