The Other Side Of Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma shows us his alpha side

- Vimal Kumar

When a fan mentions Rohit Sharma, it usually conjures up a sense of calm. But Sharma is not always calm. He has a determined grit to get the job done, to make sure he keeps pace with the best in the world and, then, to beat the best in the world.

He is an alpha athlete, a man who’s poised to become one of the biggest names in cricket. And, as anyone knows, alpha athletes don’t follow. They lead. They don’t hesitate or tire. They are a cut above and a step ahead, able to out-think and outperform their opponents. They don’t allow the game to run them. They run the game.

In the first week of March, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the new A+ category, the elite group that plays international cricket in all formats, and Sharma’s inclusion is a natural progression of the athlete he his.

“People will talk about your game, skills, ability, etc. and it’s good to hear those things. But it doesn’t change anything,” says Sharma. That’s the kind of man he is. Frank. Candid. Straight shooter. “[To my younger self] I’d say that I would have loved to have someone like me when I was young, someone who understands and thinks about the game so much. When I started, I had only a few guys I’d talk to. But you have to dream about what you want in your life. Because we know dreams come true. And, most important, you have to be disciplined.”

RUN WITH YOURSELF

Sharma didn’t disappoint anyone in his first-ever T20 international tri-series assignment where India emerged triumphant despite the absence of many key players. When it comes to the T20 format, not even the great M.S. Dhoni can compete with Sharma! Dhoni may have won back-to-back IPL trophies but Sharma has won the IPL title on three occasions, the most in the series’ decade-old history.