In 2018 when Rohit Sharma was dropped by India for the final Test in South Africa, Nasser Hussain made a prediction about Rohit’s future, for which he has since been proved right.
After the second Test in their three-match series against South Africa, Rohit was left out of the final Test which India went on to win by 62 runs. India had lost the first two Tests, with Rohit having scored 10 and 11 in the first and his only notable score of 47 off 74 in the second innings of the second. Batting in the middle order in the series, he averaged just 19.50. He was replaced in the side by Ajinkya Rahane for the third Test at the Wanderers.
The selection prompted Hussain to Tweet: “If Rohit Sharma is not a test match batsman, then I have been watching a different Rohit Sharma over the last 5 years!!”
Then, in a separate response, Hussain added: “You can’t be as talented as Rohit Sharma and not crack test cricket. India needs to stick with him! Don’t worry about the stats use your eyes and gut feeling.”
No … you can’t be as talented as Rohit Sharma and not crack test cricket .. India needs to stick with him !! Don’t worry about the stats use your eyes and gut feeling..
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) January 26, 2018
Before the South Africa series, Rohit had averaged 47.20 since his Test debut in 2013 and he had scored his third Test match century just three matches before he was dropped.
However, Hussain’s Tweets were vindicated when Rohit truly turned his short run of poor form behind on his return to the side.
From the end of the South Africa series in January 2018 until now, Rohit has averaged 55.56 with a high score of 212 runs. His best year came in 2019 where, in the five Tests he played throughout the year, he averaged an almighty 92.66 with a strike rate of 75.95.
As Rohit now leads India into a home series against Australia as captain, and with the scores he is achieving on a consistent basis, Hussain has been proved right. Rohit struck his ninth Test hundred on Friday, scoring 120 in the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur.
For ‘sticking with Rohit’ India have reaped the rewards. Rohit is now the first Indian men’s player to score a century as captain in all three formats, and just the fifth male player in the history of the game to manage this feat.
At stumps on day two, India have a commanding lead of 144 runs and look in prime position to claim the first victory in the four-match series.
