Former Pakistan’s legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has opined that Rohit Sharma must have learnt a lot while watching Virender Sehwag bat. Sehwag was well known for his audacious batting and took the attack against the opposition from the get-go.
Similarly, Rohit Sharma has done a fine job for the Indian team. Rohit is known to take his time in the initial phase of his innings and catapults his attack on the opposition after he gets settled.
Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar was the first player to score a double hundred in the ODI format. Subsequently, Virender Sehwag was also able to achieve the milestone. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma is the only batsman to score three double centuries in the 50-overs format.
“Sehwag lifted the bar and showed the way with his self-belief. Sehwag scored a double century in ODIs so players believed it could happen, like Rohit Sharma. In fact, Rohit must have learnt a lot watching Sehwag bat,” Saqlain Mushtaq said on his Youtube channel.
“Before Viru, only 1-2 players like Sir Viv or Zaheer Abbas who used to play that brand of cricket in ODIs ruled over the world. They ruled the world and similarly, Sehwag also dominated world cricket,” he added.
Mushtaq added that Sehwag changed the mindset of the players and he had a deep impact on the game as he used to hit the ground running.
“Keep in mind that the impact Virender Sehwag had on the world, the style in which he played, the brand of cricket he played, a lot of players from India benefited from it. The manner of batting he showed the world, changed Indian cricket’s mindset and that of its cricketers,” he further added.
Sehwag is regarded as one of India’s best openers and he played a key role in revolutionizing the game. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma is doing a fine job in all the three formats of the game for the Indian team. Rohit is expected to open the innings with Shubman Gill in the WTC final against New Zealand, which will take place at Ageas Bowl, Southampton from June 18.