MUMBAI: There are marvellous stories about how Indian cricketers can do no wrong at certain venues. VVS Laxman was Bradmanesque at the Eden Gardens. His great state-mate and former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin too had an eerie romance with the venue. Anil Kumble had to barely turn up at the Kotla to get wickets and Virat Kohli and the Adelaide Oval is an enchanting story too.
The same can be said about Rohit Sharma and the Brabourne Stadium. Indian cricket lovers were still coming to terms with India’s early exit from the 2007 World Cup when news filtered from the CCI that Rohit Sharma had become the first Indian to score a ton in the T20 format. He had blasted his way to 101 not out off 45 balls against Gujarat, hitting 13 fours and five sixes in the inaugural edition of the Interstate T20 meet which later on became the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tourney.
He also scored a triple hundred in the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat at the CCI, apart from scoring strokeful cameos during the 2008-09 season for Mumbai, most notably against Rajasthan, which had left then-Rajasthan coach Ian Fraser in awe.
On Monday, he became the first batsman to hit a century in ODIs at the venue when he slammed 162 against West Indies in the fourth One-dayer. Ambati Rayudu followed suit and became the second. Apart from scoring 150-plus a record seven times, Rohit also became the first batsman to score a hundred in every format at the CCI.
Manipulating the field when set is Rohit’s great strength and when he is in form, he rarely seems to hit the ball. Hence he seldom appears to slog even when he is playing across the line. That is what he did on Monday too.
Speaking to the broadcasters mid-innings, he said, “I have grown up playing cricket in Mumbai and more so at the CCI. I understand the pace and bounce here and you need to use it to your advantage. Once you do that, you get value for your shots. I was trying to not hit it very hard throughout the innings and just tried to maintain my shape.”
During the last IPL, Virat Kohli, while analysing Rohit’s strengths as a rival skipper had said how he is the most dangerous batsman once he crosses 50 because he plays correct shots and is impossible to contain him. That perhaps explains why he has got three double hundreds in ODIs and so many 150-plus scores.
Speaking about carrying on after scoring a hundred in ODIs, Rohit, during the mid-innings break stressed on that typical Mumbai attitude of not getting out easily after getting set, “I generally feel that once you cross 100 it’s about you making a mistake and getting out. The bowlers will not get you out.”
The same can be said about Rohit Sharma and the Brabourne Stadium. Indian cricket lovers were still coming to terms with India’s early exit from the 2007 World Cup when news filtered from the CCI that Rohit Sharma had become the first Indian to score a ton in the T20 format. He had blasted his way to 101 not out off 45 balls against Gujarat, hitting 13 fours and five sixes in the inaugural edition of the Interstate T20 meet which later on became the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tourney.
He also scored a triple hundred in the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat at the CCI, apart from scoring strokeful cameos during the 2008-09 season for Mumbai, most notably against Rajasthan, which had left then-Rajasthan coach Ian Fraser in awe.
On Monday, he became the first batsman to hit a century in ODIs at the venue when he slammed 162 against West Indies in the fourth One-dayer. Ambati Rayudu followed suit and became the second. Apart from scoring 150-plus a record seven times, Rohit also became the first batsman to score a hundred in every format at the CCI.
Manipulating the field when set is Rohit’s great strength and when he is in form, he rarely seems to hit the ball. Hence he seldom appears to slog even when he is playing across the line. That is what he did on Monday too.
Speaking to the broadcasters mid-innings, he said, “I have grown up playing cricket in Mumbai and more so at the CCI. I understand the pace and bounce here and you need to use it to your advantage. Once you do that, you get value for your shots. I was trying to not hit it very hard throughout the innings and just tried to maintain my shape.”
During the last IPL, Virat Kohli, while analysing Rohit’s strengths as a rival skipper had said how he is the most dangerous batsman once he crosses 50 because he plays correct shots and is impossible to contain him. That perhaps explains why he has got three double hundreds in ODIs and so many 150-plus scores.
Speaking about carrying on after scoring a hundred in ODIs, Rohit, during the mid-innings break stressed on that typical Mumbai attitude of not getting out easily after getting set, “I generally feel that once you cross 100 it’s about you making a mistake and getting out. The bowlers will not get you out.”
Source : timesofindia[dot]indiatimes[dot]com
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