India vs Afghanistan: Ex-India Wicketkeeper Believes Rohit Sharma Retains the Passion and Drive to Guide India to World Cup Triumph

Rohit Sharma is poised to make his comeback in T20 International cricket during India’s three-match series against Afghanistan, starting this Thursday (January 11) in Mohali. Prior to the series, former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim expressed his belief in Sharma’s ability to lead India to a World Cup victory, despite the team’s recent miss in the home ODI World Cup.

In a discussion on Jio Cinema, Karim praised Sharma’s leadership in the ODI World Cup and his current form. “Rohit is at the peak of his game and his fitness has only boosted his confidence,” Karim said. He further emphasized that Sharma’s return as captain is a strategic move by the Indian selectors to bring stability both in leadership and batting.

Karim also admired Rohit’s performance in the recent one-day matches, highlighting his persistent intensity and aggression. He believes these qualities can drive India towards a long-awaited World Cup win.

Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, hasn’t played in a T20I since the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, both are back for the series against Afghanistan, gearing up for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Karim attributes Sharma’s return to the T20I squad to his aggressive batting during the powerplays in the ODI World Cup and his effective leadership.

Karim praised Sharma’s approach to batting in white-ball cricket, especially during powerplays in ODIs, seeing this as a key reason for his return as a player and captain in T20Is. “He showed the way with his aggression and intensity, leading from the front,” Karim noted.

He also commented on Rohit’s extensive experience in T20 cricket, which he believes will enable a smooth transition from red-ball to white-ball formats. Karim concluded by highlighting Rohit’s impressive T20I record of 3,853 runs in 148 matches, with an average of 31.32 and a strike rate of 139.24.