Rohit can be a batsman for all seasons

Rohit Sharma provides hope to Indian cricket like few have in the recent past, captivating the hearts of passionate fans as well as minds of the astute cohorts.

The Mumbai batsman’s terrific batting in the IPL has established him as the brightest star on the Indian horizon and one with the ability to adjust to all forms of the game. His innovative batting – never the slog but just a little shifting away from the line to unleash flashing strokes– has shown his potential quite clearly.

During those knocks, one could see a sharp brain that picked the right shot and also the ability to hold back even when in full flow. The most promising batsman from the Mumbai stable in a long time, he combines the stability associated with the western metropolis with exuberance. In fact, if one has to risk predicting a future in Test cricket on the basis of performances in T20, the wager definitely is on Rohit.

Rohit started the tournament as just another promising player in a star-studded team but ended being the hero for them. His 404 attractive runs in 12 games helped outshine big-hitters like Herschelle Gibbs, Shahid Afridi and Andrew Symonds, but sadly for him, most were in a losing cause, including all his four half-centuries.

He did not get a really big knock, his highest being 76 not out against Mohali, but still managed an average of close to 34 and a strike-rate of 138. These statistics reveal Rohit’s ability to produce cameos but do not reflect his capability to extricate himself from tricky situations or to dominate incisive attacks. For, the promise of big knocks has come with a range of shots that has left bowlers flustered. He has repeatedly lofted over covers with immaculate timing, patted the ball back over the bowler deftly and dispatched balls on the leg side with fluency.