Hit Man

Gaurav Kanthwal

But for the presence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma would be the biggest star of the Indian team. Since January 2015, Rohit Sharma has made a staggering 4,258 runs at an average of 60.82in ODI cricket, with 17 100s and 18 50s — the second-best performance in the world, the man ahead of him being none other than Kohli. Kohli has got 4,635 runs in the corresponding period, at a much better average (72.42) and slightly better strike rate. 

So, the question is natural in fans’ minds — if Kohli fails, who will pile up the runs for India in the World Cup? When the ball is new and hard and the field restrictions are in play, who will make it count?

Since the time he was paired up with Shikhar Dhawan in the 2013 Champions Trophy, Rohit is the top opener in world cricket, his 5,927 runs (average 58.10) comfortably ahead of 5,286 (avg 45.96) by Dhawan and 4,459 (avg 46.93) by Quinton de Kock. Rohit and Dhawan is the most successful opening pair in international cricket in the last 10 years, with 4,541 runs in 101 ODIs and 15 100-plus partnerships and 13 50-plus partnerships.

With just six days to go for the big bang, Rohit will be exuding confidence after his unprecedented success in IPL-12, where he excelled as a captain (fourth-time champion) and batsman (405 runs in 15 matches) for Mumbai Indians.

Impressed with Rohit’s performance as captain, MI mentor Sachin Tendulkar equated Rohit with iconic CSK captain MS Dhoni and said, “I think they (Rohit and Dhoni) are pretty sharp. MS has been leading for a number of years and Rohit has also been incredibly successful. So the ability to read the game and having that peripheral (situational) awareness makes them special captain.”

Numbers game

4 Most Indian Premier League titles as captain

5 Part of a team winning most IPL titles 

3200-plus scores for Rohit Sharma in ODIs. All other players have combined four 200-plus scores. Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill have one double-ton each

188.39 Rohit’s strike rate after completing his centuries in ODIs

5 Rohit has five 150-plus scores — the joint-most with Tendulkar and  David Warner