Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad has backed India’s ODI captain to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. It has been reported that the three-match ODI series against Australia could be the last for Rohit Sharma as well as Virat Kohli.
Rohit Sharma has amassed 11,168 runs in 273 ODI matches at an impressive average of 48.77, and he has performed consistently in the 50-over version.
Rohit has already announced his retirement from T20I and Test cricket, and it would be interesting to note his decision.
“Rohit Sharma should definitely play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Winning the trophy has always been his dream, and he missed out on being part of the victorious 2011 squad,” Lad was quoted as saying to IANS.
The lad is not confident if Rohit will continue to lead the ODI team, but backs him to be part of the team.
“Whether he leads the team or not is for the BCCI and selectors to decide, but he still has the hunger and determination, and should be part of the 2027 World Cup squad,” he added.
On the other hand, Lad revealed the first time he saw Rohit Sharma as a teenager, when the youngster was bowling.
“I first saw him as a bowler, he was about 12 years old. I saw him playing a match against us. Then I told his uncle (Chacha) to get him admitted to my school. The school started in 1995, and I saw Rohit in 1999. He took admission that year. In the first year, he was in under 14. During practice, I kept making him bowl. Next year, Rohit went to the 8th standard and was 14 years old,” Rohit’s coach Lad, revealed during a podcast.
Later, Lad noted that Rohit was batting with the right technique and thus he gave him a chance to do batting practice.
“I felt he should be kept in both the under-16 and under-14 teams. One day, while entering the school, I saw a boy knocking (batting). From outside, I saw the bat was coming very straight and good. I didn’t know it was Rohit at first. When I went inside, I asked him if he was batting. He said yes, sir. Then I gave him some batting in the nets at number six or seven. Before that, I had never given him batting practice. That was my mistake,” he continued.
