In the much-anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final between India and New Zealand, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is confident that skipper Rohit Sharma will stick to his tried-and-true batting approach. Despite facing their ‘bogey’ team, New Zealand, Team India, led by Rohit, enters the Wankhede Stadium with a perfect nine out of nine victories in the round-robin phase.
Reflecting on India’s journey, it’s hard to ignore the echoes of the 2019 World Cup. Back then, the Men In Blue had a stellar run in the group stage only to be outplayed by New Zealand in the semi-finals. However, this time around, there’s a sense of determination and redemption as India seeks to change the narrative against the Kiwis.
Despite historical challenges against New Zealand in ICC events, Rohit Sharma’s Team India holds the upper hand, having broken a 20-year jinx against the Black Caps in the league phase. A significant contributor to this success was Virat Kohli’s magnificent 95-run innings, marking India’s first victory over New Zealand at the ODI World Cup since 2003.
At the forefront of India’s charge is skipper Rohit Sharma, aiming to emulate the success of cricketing stalwarts MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly by steering India to the 50-over World Cup final. Gavaskar, a batting legend himself, believes Rohit will maintain his aggressive batting style in the crucial semi-final clash.
“Well, I don’t think Rohit Sharma is going to change his game because that’s how he’s playing throughout this tournament. He hasn’t been bothered about any personal landmarks or milestones. He’s looking to get the team up to a flying start because what that does, it puts the opposition under pressure and gives his team the platform from where they can then capitalize on the remaining 40 overs,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
Rohit Sharma’s statistics speak volumes about his form and impact in the current World Cup. With 60 sixes in the ODI cricket season, he stands as the batter with the most maximums in a calendar year. Averaging 55.88, Rohit has amassed an impressive 503 runs in nine matches, showcasing his consistency and ability to deliver under pressure.
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Gavaskar predicts that Rohit will continue his aggressive approach in the initial overs, aiming to provide a flying start to India. “So in the first 8 -10 overs, he’s really going to slam back at the bowling and he’s putting the opposition on the back foot with that attacking batting. He also has a very able and very capable partner in Shubman Gill, whose note no with behind him. He’s almost matching him stroke for stroke,” Gavaskar added.
As the cricketing world awaits the clash at Wankhede, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma, the aggressive captain, as he leads India in this high-stakes semi-final. His fearless approach and formidable partnership with Gill are expected to set the stage for a thrilling encounter, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
