ICC World Cup 2023 | Rohit Sharma- Records, Profile & SWOT Analysis

image-lmufj6eqRohit Sharma will lead India in the World Cup [Twitter]

To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, the much-anticipated ODI World Cup will get underway from next month. The tournament, which will witness ten teams battle it out for the coveted trophy, comprises 48 matches, to be played from October 5 to November 19. 

Considering the astounding success of home teams in the ODI World Cups, all eyes will be on India, who will host the tournament this time. Besides opening the batting, veteran batter Rohit Sharma will lead the Men in Blue and is, therefore, expected to play a significant role in the tournament. 

As the stylish Mumbaikar gets ready for the showpiece event, let's analyse and find out what value he brings to the table for his side. 


Rohit Sharma Player Profile

After grabbing a million eyeballs through a string of impressive outings, Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut against Ireland in June 2007. Initially, he played in the middle order with modest success, but his stature grew exponentially after he was permanently promoted to the top order. An elegant batter, Sharma formed a lethal opening pair alongside Shikhar Dhawan. 

Sharma, who served as India’s vice-captain during Virat Kohli’s captaincy tenure, eventually succeeded him and will lead the team in the upcoming World Cup. 


Rohit Sharma Records

Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut against Ireland way back in June 2007 and has featured in 250 matches since then. He has been a prolific performer for India, amassing 10031 runs at a sublime average and strike rate. 

image-lmsumbymRohit Sharma was incredible in the 2019 WC [X.com]

Format
Matches
Inns
Runs
Average
SR
50/100
Overall in ODIs2502421003148.69
90.2651/30
In World Cups171797865.2095.973/6


Rohit Sharma: SWOT Analysis

Strengths

  • Ability to score daddy hundreds: A significant reason behind Rohit Sharma's exponential rise in ODI cricket is his ability to smash daddy hundreds. Hailed for his 360 degree stroke play, the elegant opener becomes a massive threat to the opponents once he gets set. He has hammered four ODI double tons, the most by a batter in the format. 
  • Exceptional pace hitter: Renowned as a gifted batter, Rohit Sharma has the ability to smack any kind of pace across all parts of the ground. An excellent player off the back foot, Sharma averages 46.9 against raw pace in ODI cricket. 


Weakness

  • Vulnerability vs moving ball: Despite being one of the fiercest hitters of the cricket ball, Sharma has had his struggles against the moving ball, especially delivered by the left-arm seamers. Statistically, he averages just 18 against left-arm seamers in the powerplay since 2022. So, crafty new ball bowlers like Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult and Reece Topley could challenge him up front in the tournament. 


Opportunity

  • Home advantage: The last time India played an ODI World Cup at home, Rohit Sharma missed out on selection owing to poor form. However, in a dramatic turnaround, he is all set to lead the team in the showpiece event this year. Therefore, it's a golden opportunity for the Indian captain to showcase his calibre and help his side clinch the title at home through his batting and leadership. 


Threats

  • Fitness and injury: Despite being a gifted batter, Rohit Sharma's career has been consistently marred by fitness concerns. Although he is fit and available, Sharma's deteriorating fitness could emerge as a threat to his performance in the mega event. 
  • Temperament issues: As per Sharma's own admission, he has adopted a slightly more aggressive batting approach in ODIs of late. This high-risk approach has resulted in several soft dismissals, preventing him from putting up big scores. Sometimes he becomes ultra-aggressive, which he should avoid in the World Cup. 


Player Rating

  • Technique vs Pace: 7/10
  • Technique vs Spin: 8/10
  • Temperament: 7/10
  • Range: 10/10
  • Experience: 10/10
  • Overall: 8.4/10