• Home
  • Player Stories
  • When Rohit Sharma The Test Player Emerged And Validated Nasser Hussains Trust In Him

When Rohit Sharma The 'Test' Player Emerged And Validated Nasser Hussain's Trust In Him

Nasser Hussain had backed Rohit Sharma to deliver in Tests (X)Nasser Hussain had backed Rohit Sharma to deliver in Tests (X)

In cricket, where patience is a virtue often overshadowed by expectations, Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s entry into Test cricket was similar to slow-burning dynamite, waiting for the right moment to explode. While he adapted to white-ball cricket with effortless ease, cracking the red-ball format was a different beast altogether.

It was during this winding road to success that a certain Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, went out on a limb and backed Rohit when many had already started to write him off. Little did the world know that Hussain’s words would one day ring truer than ever.

Rohit Sharma Defied the Odds and Lived Up to Nasser Hussain's Belief

Rohit made his much-awaited Test debut in November 2013, and the initial signs were nothing short of spectacular. Hundreds in his first two matches, batting in the middle-order, had Indian fans dreaming of a new star in the Test arena.

But, as fate would have it, the honeymoon phase didn’t last long. Over the next few years, Rohit found himself yo-yoing in and out of the Test side, unable to find his footing in what is considered the ultimate test of a cricketer’s skill and temperament.

The turning point came during India's 2017-18 tour of South Africa. With his talent unquestionable but his consistency shaky, Rohit was given the nod for the first two Tests.

But after scores that left much to be desired, the axe came down, and he was dropped for the third Test in favour of Ajinkya Rahane. It seemed like yet another missed opportunity, and murmurs began to grow about whether Rohit would ever truly shine in whites.

However, amidst this storm of doubt, one man saw the bigger picture—Nasser Hussain. In a series of posts on his X handle (then Twitter), Hussain threw his weight behind Rohit, stating:

“If Rohit Sharma is not a Test match batsman, then I have been watching a different Rohit Sharma over the last 5 years!!”




Hussain’s gut feeling defied the stats, which painted a different story. He believed in what his eyes told him, adding:

“No, you can’t be as talented as Rohit Sharma and not crack Test cricket. India needs to stick with him!! Don’t worry about the stats use your eyes and gut feeling..”



It was a sentiment that cut through the noise, one that saw beyond the numbers and tapped into the very essence of the player Rohit was destined to become.

How Rohit Sharma Transformed His Test Career

Hussain’s words seemed to breathe new life into Rohit Sharma's Test career. A year later, during the 2018-19 tour of Australia, Rohit was back in the playing XI, making a solid contribution in Adelaide with 37 and a crucial unbeaten 63 in Melbourne.

It was a glimpse of what was to come, but the real transformation would occur when Rohit was promoted to open the innings during the 2019 home series against South Africa.

The move to the top order turned out to be a masterstroke. Rohit flourished, amassing 529 runs in four innings at a jaw-dropping average of 132.25 with two hundreds and a double hundred. The weight had finally lifted, and Rohit had arrived.

Since that series, Rohit Sharma has gone from strength to strength, proving that good things come to those who wait. He has played 33 Tests since that October 2019 series, scoring 2,563 runs at an impressive average of 48.35, with nine centuries under his belt. His ascension to India’s Test captaincy has only added another feather to his cap, further cementing his legacy in the longer format.

Nasser Hussain's bold call now looks like an oracle’s prediction. As Rohit continues to pile on the runs and lead India, Hussain’s faith in him stands vindicated. What began as a shot in the dark has turned into a masterstroke of insight.