IND vs NZ: "Turning Point Was When He Got The Opportunity To Finally Open" - Rahul Dravid On Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma‘s career reportedly took a turn for the better when he was given the chance to start the innings, according to India head coach Rahul Dravid.

During India’s tour of South Africa in January 2011, Rohit batted first for his country. In the third ODI against the Proteas, the right-hander amassed 23 runs. During the 2013 home series against England, he began routinely starting the innings.

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Rohit Sharma Has Been A Phenomenal Cricketer For India: Rahul Dravid

“He has been a phenomenal cricketer for India. I remember seeing him for the first time when he was 17 or 18, just came out of Under 19s, you could see him looking slightly different and he has gone on to prove that. You look at a lot of kids, who look different at 19 but not all of them go on to actually achieve their potential.

What Rohit has done over the last 15 years I think now has actually achieved his potential and really been a great servant of Indian cricket and done really well,” Dravid said in the press conference.

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“Maybe for him in some ways, the turning point was when he got the opportunity to finally open and really his hallmark has been his performances in ICC tournaments that we saw in 2019 but also his ability that to score big runs, someone who has got three double hundreds in this format (ODI) is absolutely phenomenal achievement,” he added.

Since making his ODI debut in June 2007, Rohit has played in 240 games and recorded three double ODI hundreds. With a strike rate of 89.66, the right-hander has scored 9681 runs, including 29 centuries and 48 fifty-pluses.

Rohit Sharma Got A Really Good Complete Game: Rahul Dravid

The BCCI appointed Rohit as India’s ODI captain after Virat Kohli was relieved of his duties. Rohit has been constantly scoring runs despite a decline in form last year. In his past five home ODI appearances, he scored 83, 17, 42, 34, and 51 runs.

“He has been incredibly successful. He is someone who has got that kind of game. You can’t think of a kind of bowling to bowl to him. When he is playing well, you can’t bowl fast and short to him, he takes down spinners, he plays swing well. He has got a really good complete game.

He has been a fantastic player for India, he has been batting really well for us. Even in last few games, it was terrific to watch him playing. Great to have him leading the side at the moment,” Dravid said.

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