Gavaskar's Grand Vision: Wants Rohit Sharma to Outpace His Age in ODI Hundreds
Sunil Gavaskar wants Rohit Sharma to score more ODI hundreds than his age by the time he retires from international cricket.
Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has set a lofty benchmark for the 'Hitman,' expressing a personal desire to see Rohit Sharma achieve a milestone that transcends mere statistics. Speaking on his recent performance, Gavaskar revealed that he wants the Indian opener to possess more ODI hundreds than his age at the time of his retirement.
The 92-Run Heartbreak
Despite a commanding knock of 92 runs off 85 balls against the West Indies in the third ODI, Gavaskar admitted a sense of disappointment. The veteran cricketer noted that while the innings was brilliant—featuring 10 fours and three sixes—missing out on a century was a missed opportunity to move closer to a historic career milestone.
“The reason I was disappointed with Rohit getting out on 92 is that he didn't get a hundred,” Gavaskar remarked. “And he might possibly quit international cricket after the end of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. At that particular point of time, when he decides to call it a day, I personally would like Rohit to have more ODI hundreds than his age.”
A Benchmark of Greatness
For Gavaskar, reaching a point where a player's centuries outnumber their age at retirement is the ultimate indicator of sustained excellence and high standards. Rohit Sharma currently sits at 35 ODI centuries, and a ton in the recent West Indies fixture would have brought him to 36.
The legend reflected on his own career aspirations, noting that he narrowly missed a similar feat in Test cricket. “In my last year of international cricket, I wanted to get as many Test centuries as my age, and I got out in the 90s thrice. If I'd got those hundreds, then my centuries would have matched the age of my retirement, which was 38,” Gavaskar shared.
The Evolution of the 'Hitman'
Gavaskar observed a significant shift in Rohit Sharma’s batting philosophy since the 2023 ODI World Cup. While the captain previously adopted a high-risk, high-reward approach—aiming to strike hard from the very first ball—he has recently transitioned into a more calculated accumulator.
“A slight change has appeared in the batting template of Rohit... Now he recognises that his wicket is valuable. In that 2023 World Cup, he got the team off to great starts, but he's not a batsman who will score just 30-40 runs. He's a hundred-maker!” Gavaskar explained.
This tactical evolution allows Rohit to balance aggressive scoring with innings longevity, effectively silencing critics who have previously labeled his strike rate as too slow. By converting starts into massive scores, Rohit is not only benefiting the team's scoring rate but is also positioning himself to reach the legendary milestone Gavaskar has envisioned.