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Down And Out, Rohit Sharma Must Let His Bat Do The Talking In South Africa Tests

image-lqm0y75tRohit Sharma in action [X.com]

Ahead of the soon-to-begin South Africa Tests, Rohit Sharma most recently shared the following:  

“Test cricket is the real Test of everything you have- as a cricketer, as a person and as a professional.” 

As a matter of fact, it’s rather interesting that this is coming from someone who is perhaps playing the Test of his life. 

And that’s not for the reason that Rohit Sharma enters his first competitive international series since the downside in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, but because of how life’s recently panned out for the famous batsman, the games against South Africa are the ultimate Test for Rohit Gurunath Sharma as a batsman and as a person.  

It’s what he has to prove his stature as a batting great at the highest level. The days of the fiery World Cup hundred, such as the effort against Afghanistan, now belong to the past; Rohit Sharma needs to hang on to dear life and to that bat that looks like a mace in his hand, especially after the IPL debate. 

It was not a controversy, not a debacle, but perhaps a bit of a dagger that was pushed into his heart as celebrated champions Mumbai Indians opted for a newer captain, Rohit, who’s been part of sad Tweets and lowly cricketing content found in every nook and corner of the Internet must come through in the Test matches. 

That a batsman like him doesn’t need, particularly speaking, a reason to pounce on opponents is hardly the case for him to bounce back to glorious headlines having eschewed their attention for little fault of his. 

But that Rohit has an opportunity to hit big runs and prove to those who may have sensed in him a batsman who’s lived his time on the hard yards of the game is the need of the hour. A desperate one at that.  

Moreover, Rohit’s own record against the Proteas in cricket’s ultimate format speaks volumes of his ability as a fine talent at the highest annals. 

A personal best of 212 was, lest it is forgotten, achieved with thudding sounds of glory against this very opponent that Rohit Sharma is set to lock horns with one more time. 

There are batsmen who take their own time to get going. There are some who score briskly. But only a few manage to play Test cricket at the staggeringly surprising white ball scoring rates. 

The likes of AB, Gayle and Rohit Sharma belong to this level. It took Sharma 255 deliveries- not more- to score 212 world-class runs against an unsuspecting South Africa in 2019 when they last visited India for Tests under Faf du Plessis’s captaincy. 

At that time, the mighty right-hander had only played 30 Tests, from which he had scored just over 1,900 runs. 

Today, as he stands on the verge of touching 4,000 runs in the format, he’s within striking range of scoring 1,000 of those against one of the world’s best bowling attacks. 

Having made 678 already from just 9 Tests, his third-highest run tally against any opposition, England and Australia being ahead in that order, is it time for some mayhem for South Africa? Who knows? Who knows which way the wind blows or will in these next few hopefully closely-watched hours? 

But a thing can be said for certain. The uncomplicated batsman, known for his Midas touch and the great ease with which he bats, will have some things to sort out and some message to give to what could be the growing clout of detractors. 

It might just be two tests, but the elegant batsman will see it as four brand-new opportunities to extend his career in a format he belongs to. Like the Hitman who carries the decisive hit, of course.