R Ashwin said captain Rohit Sharma has changed the batting landscape of India’s white-ball with his intent. Rohit Sharma led the chase with 76 runs off 83 balls and KL Rahul’s unbeaten 34 helped India cross the finish line on 254 for 6 in 49 overs to win the Champions Trophy for the third time.
“Against New Zealand Rohit Sharma has played a measured knock. It was not like Ahmedabad,” Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat.”
“The way he attacked Nathan Smith. He never let him came back into the game. His intent was so good,” he said.
Ashwin jogged back the memory lane and revealed how Rohit led by example after India were hammered by England in the semifinal of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
India’s captain Rohit Sharma poses with the winners trophy after defeating New Zealand in the final cricket match of the ICC Champions Trophy at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Christopher Pike)
“He has led by example since that 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal loss against England. If a captain is willing to risk his wicket in the middle, the players know that’s how they will have to play.
“Rohit’s biggest legacy is not about winning the tournaments. He has won five IPL titles with Mumbai Indians. He has now led India to back-to-back ICC titles. That’s not his legacy. Rohit Sharma has changed the batting frontier of Indian white-ball cricket. That is his biggest legacy,” he said.
“He is a stalwart in ODI cricket. Actually he changed out cricketing thought process in the white-ball when it comes to the batting.
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“Earlier it was to score big runs, remain not out. Please note this. In India the batting landscape was like this only, the top three batters will score big runs, they will improve their average.
India’s captain Rohit Sharma poses with the winners trophy after defeating New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. (AP Photo)
“The mindset is same even in the junior age-group, you stay not out and score big.
“I feel as a batter now in the ODIs and in the T20Is, you must play selfless cricket.
“With that regards Rohit Sharma has changed that mindset as a captain with the way he is playing and is asking his players to play the same way. May god be with him, he has been an absolute superstar for the Indian team,” he said.
