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Rohit — dismantling attacks the traditional way

Special Correspondent

— FILE PHOTO

Rohit Sharma.

MUMBAI: Rohit Sharma stands out in Twenty20 cricket for the quality of his strokeplay. In a sport where a batsman using brute force to maul the bowlers is par for the course, Rohit dismantles attacks with timing, body balance and placement. The straight drive, the late cut and flicks off the hips come into play when he is in flow.

Still only 20 and into his first season of international cricket, this Mumbai batsman is able to milk runs in the Indian Premier League using technique relevant and effective in the longer version of the game. He is also updating his repertoire with new strokes; a scoop over cover on bent knees a visual delight for both purists and T20 fans.

Potential pillar

This weekend will mark Rohit’s first IPL appearance in his home city, pitting skills and wits against the Mumbai Indians. The Hyderabad franchise valued him at $7,50,000 during the IPL auction, spiriting away a young man tipped by experts watching the T20 World Championship and the Commonwealth Bank Series as a potential pillar of India’s batting in the coming seasons.

Mumbai’s Ranji coach, Praveen Amre, attributes Rohit’s growing reputation to temperament. “Whenever Rohit has got an opportunity, he has grabbed it with both hands. This quality separates him from others of his generation. He is a teamman who is always looking to do something for the side, so takes charge of the situation when batting,” said Amre.

“Rohit is always looking to play cricketing shots, even in Twenty20, so he will be effective in all versions of the game. He has to focus on hitting at least three 50s in the IPL,” added Amre.

Poise

The youngster’s poise in big-match situations came through in the 30 runs scored against Pakistan in the T20 final, and then 66 in the first final of the Commonwealth Bank series against Australia. Mumbai Indians would have benefited from Sharma’s solidity in the middle-order, but market forces determined otherwise and he is being paid to steady the Deccan Chargers batting. Biding his time when hitters Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds are at work he then quietly takes charge when the situation arises.

The IPL is just another stage for cricket entertainers like Sharma to earn a living, taking on Ranji teammate Abhishek Nayar, T20 India teammate Harbhajan Singh and world stars Sanath Jayasuriya, Shaun Pollock on Sunday at Nerul’s D.Y. Patil stadium.

“For players like Rohit, the IPL is similar to the Challenger Series where you are part of one team and the rival side may have your own mates with whom you have toured before,” said Amre, hoping for more runs from the youngster in the IPL.

Delhi Daredevils got a taste of Sharma’s strokeplay, 66 from 36 balls and a flurry of fours and sixes making bowlers nervous and keeping fans entertained. Now it is the Mumbai Indians’ turn to face the music at home.

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