With strong show Down Under Rohit stays in control of his fate

His ever-evolving role as opener shows the value the 38-year-old still brings to the Indian one-day team

- Somshuvra Laha

The mesmerising thing about Rohit Sharma in oneday cricket isn’t so much about his runs and records but how after so many years he can still be in complete control of the tempo he decides to set in the first place and lead India’s batting in ODIs.

There was the phase of daddy hundreds when Rohit was intent on exploiting the length and breadth of one-day innings, securing a record three double centuries and innumerable wins for India in the process.

Had he not moved out of that mode, he would have had more than his 33 hundreds by now. But he quit that accumulation-heavy approach for an enforcer role in the 2023 ODI World Cup, throwing away starts to provide India quick starts. For the same person to switch back to the accumulative mode despite a six-month hiatus from all forms of international cricket underscores the level of understanding of the game Rohit possesses.

The transition couldn't have been more challenging though. Perth wasn't ideal for batting. ‘Adelaide was slightly better but the pitch was still fresh and hostile to batters, meaning Rohit had to really dig in to give India a decent start. In Sydney, however, Rohit finally hit his stride, pulling and punching, threading the field and dropping the ball close to sustain a risk-free accumulation that resulted in a momentous hundred.