Rohit Sharma's Childhood Coach Points Out The Time When He First Spotted Him

Rohit Sharma has undoubtedly come a long way from his international debut in 2007 and remaining on the fringes of the Indian team before asserting his authority over the bowlers. At present, he serves as the vice-captain to Virat Kohli in limited-overs cricket and transformed Mumbai Indians as the most successful IPL franchise. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach has revealed an interesting story about him.

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While Rohit Sharma donned the Indian jersey in 2007, it was not before 2013 that he sealed a permanent spot in the team. The 33-year-old’s promotion to the top-order turned around his career dramatically as he began shattering records. Seven thousand out of his 9000 ODI runs have come while opening the innings, including his highest score of 264 amongst three double-centuries. The right-handed batsman has also mustered four centuries in T20 internationals and is the second-highest run-getter in the format.

Dinesh Lad, who happens to be Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, recalled a camp that was organized in Mumbai alongside some matches. Dinesh reveals putting his team while Rohit’s side turned out in the final in a 10-over clash; however, Dinesh’s outfit won that encounter. Dinesh Lad added that their school was new and there was a search going and he could not resist taking Rohit, the way he bowled.

“There was one camp organised in Borivali, and there were some matches organised. I had put my school’s team and Rohit’s team came into the final and it was a 10 over game on a cement wicket, we won that game. That time our school was new and I used to search for kids, the way Rohit bowled, I was impressed and thought that we should take this kid to our school,” Lad stated as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Rohit Sharma was the first kid for whom I did that: Dinesh Lad

Lad further said that he could not help but ask the school director to waive off Rohit’s fees; however, he did not know if he would play for India at that time. The veteran coach elaborated that if at that time, he would not have been admitted without fees, none might have seen him on the big stage.

“I asked the (school) director to waive off his fees and Rohit was the first kid for whom I did that, at that time I didn’t think that he would play for India. They admitted him. If at that time, this granted freeship wouldn’t have happened, you couldn’t have seen Rohit Sharma,” Dinesh Lad asserted.

Rohit Sharma, who won the Rajiv Khel Ratna Award recently, for his outstanding form for India in the last 2-3 years earned praises from Dinesh Lad for his hard work and talent. Lad backs the Nagpur-born cricketer to guide India to their third World Cup victory in three years.

“Getting the Khel Ratna is a great achievement. I should not say this but if a poor boy has talent and he justifies it and has luck, then that boy can reach the sky and a living example of it is Rohit Sharma.

“All that he has earned due to his hard work and talent. My expectation is that in the forthcoming 50-over World Cup, Rohit should win it for India on his own ability,” Lad, a popular cricket coach in Mumbai circles,” he added further.

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