Rohit Sharma’s recent retirement from Test cricket has marked the end of an era for Indian cricket. The right-handed opener retired from his red ball career after 67 Tests and scoring over 4,300 runs.
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Since then, the cricketing world is weighing in on what made Rohit special and what could have made him even better.
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What did Moeen Ali say about Rohit Sharma?
Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, former England all-rounder Moeen Ali (currently with Kolkata Knight Riders) shared his thoughts on Rohit’s career. Moeen praised Rohit’s raw talent and effortless batting style but he also pointed out a key difference between him and Virat Kohli: fitness.
"Rohit was a more natural player… Like a proper gift given to him. There was a period of time where he was probably the most talented player in the world, naturally," Moeen said.
"Like probably didn't do the work in terms of fitness and stuff as Virat but still as effective. Would probably hit the ball further," he added.
How did Rohit Sharma fare in Tests?
Rohit’s Test career had its ups and downs. He has had inconsistent overseas tours. He hit 12 centuries and played several match-winning innings as an opener.
His transformation from a middle-order batter to a top-order opener came under the guidance of then-coach Ravi Shastri. Shastri - in a conversation on the ICC Review - said that Rohit often got “bored” batting in the middle order.
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The move to promote him as an opener was based on his success in white-ball cricket.
“Batting at four, five, this guy used to get bored... Test cricket might be a honeymoon for him if he starts embracing it,” Shastri said.
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Did Rohit Sharma's legacy leave behind a few 'what-ifs'?
Rohit Sharma’s Test journey was a mix of good and missed opportunities. Moeen’s comments have added to the ongoing debate about how much further Rohit could have gone if fitness had been a priority earlier in his career.