Legendary Pakistan fast-bowler Wasim Akram has heaped
praise on Bharat skipper Rohit Sharma, saying he makes batting look so easy.
Rohit scored a half-century as Bharat hammered Netherlands by 160 runs in the
final group-stage match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Speaking to A Sports, Akram said there’s no player
like Rohit in international cricket, adding that he makes batting look so easy.
Rohit scored 61 runs off 54 balls, hitting eight boundaries and two sixes.
“There’s no player like Rohit Sharma in international
cricket. We talk about Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Babar Azam
but this guy is different. He makes batting look so easy no matter what the
opposition or bowling attack,” said Akram.
Meanwhile, fellow panellist and former Pakistan batter
Shoaib Malik agreed with Akram and added that Rohit has the tendency to go
after all the opposition bowlers. Rohit has scored 503 runs in nine matches at
an average of 55.88 while striking at 121.49 in World Cup 2023.
“He’s a kind of batter who will hit all five
opposition bowlers. The batters that Wasim Akram named, they target 3-4 bowlers
but Rohit goes after all five,” said Malik.
Rohit scored a rapid fifty against the Netherlands at
the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
En route his half-century, Rohit broke former South
Africa skipper AB de Villiers’ record (58) for the most sixes hit in a calendar
year. He also became the captain to hit the most sixes in an ODI World Cup,
going past the record set by former England captain Eoin Morgan in 2019 (22).
Just like he’s done all through the tournament, the
India captain came out all guns blazing against the Dutch in Bengaluru. Both
Rohit and Gill looked in prime touch as India amassed 91 runs in the first
powerplay. Rohit brought up his half-century in the 14th over before being
dismissed by Bas de Leede.
Bharat went on to post 410 for 4 on the board before
bundling Netherlands over for 250 runs in 47.4 overs, winning the match by 160
runs. They will now face New Zealand in the semi-final on November 15 in
Mumbai.
Agencies
