Rohit Sharma’s Legacy in Indian Cricket Debate
Sanjay Manjrekar sparked debate after saying that Rohit Sharma does not feature in his list of India’s all-time batting greats. On The Great Indian Cricket Show aired by Doordarshan, Manjrekar argued that Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli hold that elite status, but Rohit falls short in his view.
“Rohit Sharma doesn’t quite belong in the list of India’s all-time batting greats, as that space is reserved for legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
Manjrekar, however, described Rohit as a selfless cricketer, pointing out that in one-day internationals his leadership and team-first attitude stand out. He stressed that the India captain has consistently put the team’s interests above his own.
Rohit’s record in 50-over World Cups is magnificent. He is India’s third-highest run scorer in the tournament’s history and fourth overall, with 1,575 runs in 28 matches at an average of 60.57. He has registered seven hundreds and six half-centuries, with a top score of 140.
“But when you consider one-day cricket, qualities like selflessness and leadership, Rohit Sharma has to be mentioned. After the 2023 World Cup, the affection people showed for him rose to another level. They saw that he never put himself first and was ready to sacrifice his own interests for the team’s success. That is his true strength. His effortless dominance in limited-overs cricket has always been enjoyable to watch, with him even coming close to 300 in an ODI. However, when it comes to the all-time greats of Indian batting, Test cricket carries greater importance, and I don’t believe he made a lasting mark in that format,” he concluded.
The 2019 World Cup in England was his most remarkable campaign, as he smashed five centuries—the most by any player in a single edition—while topping the charts with 648 runs in nine games at an average of 81.00. In the 2023 World Cup at home, Rohit again delivered with attacking consistency, amassing 597 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of above 125, including one century and three half-centuries, finishing as the second-highest run getter.
Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket in May this year and brought down the curtain on his T20I career after India’s T20 World Cup triumph in June 2024.
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