3 reasons why Rohit Sharma is still preferred in the middle order in ODIs
At least in ODIs, Rohit Sharma should bat in the middle orderIf there is one batsman in India who is trolled as much as he is loved, that would probably be Rohit Sharma. In one match, he becomes a legend, and in the next one he will turn into Ravindra Jadeja. However, there is an undeniable fact that he is one of the most prized possessions of Indian cricket team, especially in the shorter format.But what makes him so indispensable and vital in India’s batting line-up? In astrology, there is a concept that even Saturn, a planet which is notorious for causing harm, can bring good fortune to the individual if positioned well with other stars and planets. Similarly, in cricket, a player batting in his most suitable position can bring great results to himself and the team.Rohit Sharma’s batting position has been a case on the anvil (though he has never batted down the order since 2013) for quite a while. Every time when critics ask him to go back to his old position in the middle order, he rewrites the record books and shuts their mouths.However, for some reasons, many analysts can’t stomach the idea of Rohit batting at the top of the order.Let’s have a look at the top 3 reasons why Rohit is preferred in the middle order.
#1 Save Kohli
Let’s start with the funniest, yet a significant one. Rohit Sharma’s penchant for running out his partner at the other end is a painful fact well-known to all Indian cricket fans. And it hurts even more when he runs out India’s best batsman, Virat Kohli.
But if there is one batsman in the whole universe who could reach the other end safely while running with Rohit, that’s M.S. Dhoni. Yes, Rohit’s misjudgments could only be compensated by Dhoni’s swiftness and alertness while running between the wickets. If Rohit bats down the order, Kohli will be safe, and Dhoni will also get a chance to bat with one of his favorite players.
However, every time when Rohit literally takes the wicket of his partner, he goes on to make a milestone, and one can never turn a blind eye towards that.