South African cricket legend AB de Villiers has strongly backed Rohit Sharma to continue playing international cricket, praising his exceptional record as both a batter and captain. De Villiers commended the Indian skipper for reinventing his ODI batting approach over the past three years.
This support comes just days after Rohit dismissed retirement rumors following India’s Champions Trophy victory. With this win, he became only the second Indian captain after MS Dhoni to secure multiple ICC titles, having previously led India to the T20 World Cup triumph.
Highlighting Rohit’s leadership, de Villiers pointed out his impressive win percentage of nearly 74%—the highest among past Indian captains. “If he continues like this, he will be remembered as one of the greatest ODI captains ever. Rohit himself has clarified he is not retiring and urged people to stop spreading false rumors,” de Villiers said.
In the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, Rohit played a crucial role in India’s successful chase of 252 runs. His aggressive approach in the Powerplay set the tone, and he was named Player of the Final for his match-winning 76 off 83 balls.
“Why would he retire? His record speaks for itself—not just as a captain, but also as a batter. That innings in the final was a masterclass in handling pressure and leading from the front,” de Villiers noted on his YouTube channel.
‘Batting Transformation Makes Him Even Greater’
De Villiers also highlighted how Rohit has evolved as a batter, particularly in the Powerplay. “Earlier, his strike rate in the first 10 overs was on the lower side for an opener. But since 2022, he has increased it to 115, which is the mark of a truly great player. The ability to adapt and improve is what sets the best apart,” he added.
With Rohit at the helm and in top form, de Villiers sees no reason for the Indian captain to step away from the game anytime soon.
[Source: indianexpress]
