Rohit Sharma, a batting powerhouse of the modern era, has been a cornerstone of Team India across all formats for years. While his dominance in limited-overs cricket was undisputed, his shift to opening the batting in Tests has also seen him cement his place as a formidable force in the longer format.
He has conquered pitches worldwide and elegant strokeplay and insatiable hunger for runs have made fans go crazy. He has done well in Australia, England, West Indies and a few other places. However, amidst this global domination, one chink in Sharma’s armour stands out: South Africa. He averages 15.38 in 4 Tests and 19.69 in 14 ODIs respectively which is hard to believe. Some attribute this to the bouncy, fast pitches and unfamiliar swing, while others point to mental hurdles. Ahead of the ongoing Test series, many hoped that Rohit Sharma would finally conquer the Rainbow Nation but the start has not been great.
Rohit’s struggles continue
Today, after India were put in to bat first by Temba Bavuma and his boys, Rohit was dismissed in just the 5th over of the game. He looked to pull a short delivery bowled by Kagiso Rabada but could not execute well as he was caught at fine-leg by debutant Nandre Burger. He could only make 5 runs, which was disappointing for him and the team. His latest performance only highlighted the fact that South Africa has not been a happy hunting ground for him.
Despite this one blip, Rohit Sharma’s achievements remain extraordinary. He is a relentless run machine who has dismantled bowling attacks worldwide. His story is still being written, and who knows, with three innings still left, maybe he will conquer South Africa and add another chapter to his glorious cricketing saga.
It’s important to remember that even the greatest cricketers have their weaknesses. Sachin Tendulkar struggled in Australia for years before turning it around, and Virat Kohli has had inconsistent performances in England. Rohit Sharma’s South African struggles should not overshadow his talent and global success.
