New Delhi: Rohit Sharma is too good a player to be out of form for a long time, says Ravindra Jadeja, who said the team had plenty of belief in the under-pressure skipper.
The opener smashed his 32nd ODI hundred, scoring 119 runs off 90 balls, to power India to a four wicket win over England, helping them clinch the three-match series with a game to spare.
Sharma had faced immense criticism for continued failure across formats but he answered his critics with a knock studded with 12 boundaries and seven sixes.
The 37-year-old returning to form is a good sign for India, just days before the Champions Trophy that begins on February 19.
“The entire world may be behind him but in our dressing room, there was no such atmosphere. He is such a great player that he knows exactly how to build an innings,” Jadeja said after India’s win in Cuttack.
“It’s just a matter of one good inning. As you saw, it didn’t even feel like he hadn’t scored runs in the previous innings. The shots he played were smooth and he looked confident. Just played normal strokes.
“Sometimes, it just takes one or two innings to turn things around. The good thing is that, before an important tournament like the Champions Trophy, scoring a hundred is a huge boost. It’s great for the team, and obviously, he himself knows his game well. There’s nothing much to think or discuss.”
India chased down a 305-run target with ease, riding on Sharma’s ton and Jadeja said if a top-order batter scores a ton then it becomes easier for the team to win.
“Obviously, as I just mentioned, before a big tournament, if any batsman scores a hundred, it boosts confidence both for the individual and the team,” the left-arm all-rounder said.
“If your top-order batsmen are scoring runs, you will always get a good start. In ODI cricket, if you get a good start in the first 10-15 overs, it sets the platform for the death overs, where you can capitalise.”
‘Benefitted from domestic cricket stint’
Jadeja felt that playing in domestic cricket helped him maintain his rhythm despite not playing in ODIs for two years.
“No, it feels really good, especially after almost two years—since the World Cup. Coming back into this format requires quick adaptation, but I believe the domestic matches I played helped me a lot,” he said.
“In those matches, I bowled over 30 overs, which helped me maintain my rhythm. Even in Tests, I tried to maintain the same line and length in ODIs. The rhythm remained intact because the break wasn’t too long. So, I think playing domestic games benefitted me in maintaining my rhythm.”
Rohit Sharma scored his 32nd ODI ton, his 90-ball 119 helped India to a four wicket win over England in the second ODI in Cuttack Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
