Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), highlighted the skill of 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi while praising Team India's outstanding bench strength. He also praised "greats" Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their hard ethic, class, and convictions.
Dhumal praised Rohit's batting mastery in the just finished three-match ODI series against Australia, when he was named Player of the Series, and expressed optimism that both Rohit and Kohli are far from done in the 50-over format.
In the third ODI, Rohit and Kohli launched an incredible counterattack against Australia, overcoming the rust and lack of rhythm from the previous two ODI losses. With Rohit hitting an undefeated 121* and Virat securing the innings with a rock-solid, risk-free 74*, the duo drove India to victory while chasing 237.
The performance made it clear that the icons are still very much in the running for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
"We've been talking about this bench strength of the Indian team for a long, long time. But look at this team, a 14-year-old wonder, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, he's knocking at the door to be part of the team."
"And then you have these greats like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who people think are going, but they are not going. They are here to stay. And the way Rohit has shown his class in this ODI series, at that age, coming as player of the match in the final match and then player of the series, that shows the kind of conviction that they carry, the kind of hard work that they put in. When it comes to Team India, they will want to give it their best. And that is the true reflection of a sportsman. And my best wishes to both of them. They have done wonderful. They have given their life to Indian cricket," Dhumal told ANI.
Rohit's tenacity, resolve, and ability to win games were demonstrated during the Australia series.
The 'Hitman' went through everything in this 202-run series, from battling with a single-digit score in Perth to grinding out a crucial 97-ball 73 when he controlled his natural attacking tendencies in Adelaide and then concluding a scorching undefeated 121 off 125 balls in Sydney. He demonstrated to the world that his aim is still the 2027 World Cup and that he is committed to achieving all of his fitness and cricket objectives.
Following his stellar show against Australia, Rohit Sharma etched his name in history on Wednesday by claiming the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for the first time in his career. His unbeaten century in the Sydney ODI not only powered India to a commanding nine-wicket victory but also lifted him two places to the top of the rankings.
Due to his consistency, Rohit became the top ODI batter for the first time, surpassing both India teammate Shubman Gill and Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran. For the most of the previous ten years, the 38-year-old has consistently placed in the top 10.
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