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In a recent interview, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir shared insights into his early conversations with Rohit Sharma and praised the latter’s journey to becoming one of the world’s best cricketers. Gambhir recalled a conversation with Sharma during the early days of his international career, highlighting his belief in Sharma’s potential to dominate world cricket.
“I remember when Rohit Sharma initially came into international cricket, there was a series in Sri Lanka where he hadn’t scored any runs in five matches and there was a lot of criticism. I told only one thing to Rohit, ‘As much knowledge as I have of cricket, and from the cricket that I’ve seen, you are going to dominate world cricket.’ Good that he has been able to dominate world cricket. This was I think around 2008 or 2009,” Gambhir shared.
Despite facing criticism and a tough start to his international career, Sharma’s talent was evident to Gambhir. “He had that talent even then. But turning that talent into reality and performance is completely different. So, you’ve got to give it to the man. He didn’t have a very easy start in international cricket, he had a difficult start,” Gambhir acknowledged.
Gambhir also discussed Sharma’s leadership qualities and the impact of his early struggles on his captaincy. “That’s one good thing because when you lead a country, and that too of the size of India, and you don’t have a good start, then you start putting yourself in other players’ shoes as well. If his start was very easy, he would have always felt that international cricket is very easy. Today, if any young player is struggling, Rohit Sharma will feel that if it was tough for him, it will be difficult for him as well. That’s why he probably leads that well and keeps it very balanced,” Gambhir elaborated.
Reflecting on facing Sharma as an opponent, Gambhir acknowledged the challenge Sharma posed on the field. “Because he had a quality, as simple as it can get. You have your own assessment of the players. Maybe some other captains may find some other players difficult. So, I had my own assessments for every player, and for me, it was difficult to control him, and his records were also like that against us; be it at Eden Gardens or somewhere else, the way he used to dominate. But it was fun. Because when you control, or execute that plan correctly, and the results come in your favor, it’s a lot of good feeling also.”
Gambhir also fondly recalled moments playing with Sharma and praised his contributions to the team. “People talk about my knock and Irfan’s spell, but Rohit Sharma’s contribution towards the back end, his run out against South Africa, are all the memories I have of him. I’ve enjoyed playing with him and interacting with him,” Gambhir added.
Rohit Sharma, currently leading Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 season, has indeed become a dominant force in world cricket, achieving numerous milestones and leading India to success in various formats of the game. Gambhir’s words serve as a testament to Sharma’s perseverance and talent, inspiring many young cricketers to follow their dreams despite initial challenges.
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