This is an archive article published on February 21, 2025

Wasim Akram showers praise on Team India captain Rohit Sharma: ‘There is a lazy elegance about him’

Rohit Sharma scored a quick-fire 41 off 36 balls and shared a 69-run opening partnership off 59 balls with centurion Shubman Gill, putting India ahead of the required run rate.

India's captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during a One Day International (ODI) cricket match of the ICC Champions Trophy between India and Bangladesh, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai, UAE. (AP)

By: Sports Desk

3 min readFeb 21, 2025 10:06 PM IST First published on: Feb 21, 2025 at 11:22 AM IST

Legendary Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram praised Team India captain Rohit Sharma after his brisk knock against Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opening match at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

Rohit Sharma scored a quick-fire 41 off 36 balls and shared a 69-run opening partnership off 59 balls with centurion Shubman Gill, putting India ahead of the required run rate.

“There is a lazy elegance about Rohit Sharma. He is special. He has scored three double centuries in ODIs,” Wasim Akram said on the show “Dressing Room.”

“In 2008, during a tri-series in Australia, I was doing commentary, and all of us in the commentary box predicted that there was something special about this boy. He scored a fine 70 and looked so good to the eyes,” he said.

Rohit Sharma (c) of India celebrating his Hundred during the 2nd ODI match between India and England held at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, India on the 9th February 2025. (Sportzpics)

Cheteshwar Pujara commented on how Rohit Sharma’s batting helped Shubman Gill settle down and score his eighth one-day international hundred. Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 101 off 129 balls. India chased down the target with 21 balls to spare.

“His batting complements Gill. Rohit’s attacking style helps Gill settle down,” said Pujara.

“With the strike rate he bats at in the first five overs, the score is 40. The other batter can take 10-15 balls to get set. Even if India lose a wicket early and Rohit is still at the crease for the next ten overs, he makes life easy for Virat also,” he added.

India captain Rohit Sharma on Thursday became the second-fastest batter, after compatriot Virat Kohli, to complete 11,000 runs in One-day Internationals during their Champions Trophy clash against Bangladesh.

Rohit is only the fourth Indian and 10th batter overall to reach the mark in the 50-over format.

Rohit Sharma (c) of India during the 1st ODI match between India and England held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, India on the 6th February 2025. (Sportzpics)

Former India off-spinner, Nikhil Chopra, analyzed Rohit’s innings and how he was troubled by left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman.

“Against Mustafizur in the initial four-five balls, he was troubled by the left-arm seamer. Then he showed his experience. He stepped out against Mustafizur, breaking his rhythm. The bowler was forced to change his game plan,” he said.

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Chopra also mentioned how Rohit Sharma was picked by former India batter Dilip Vengsarkar when the Indian captain was playing in U-19 cricket.

“Credit goes to Dilip Vengsarkar. Thanks to Dilip bhai, he spotted him. He kept telling everyone that there is a big player coming through the ranks,” said Chopra.

Wasim Akram lauded Dilip Vengsarkar for having an eye to spot such talent. “I have played with Dilip bhai. What a gutsy cricketer he was. Probably one of the few batters to score three Test centuries at Lord’s,” he said.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who was in the same U-19 team with Rohit Sharma, added: “Rohit and I were in the same U-19 batch, and we knew that Dilip sir had picked him.”