Rohit Sharma had a 2017 to remember in ODI cricket. The India limited-overs opening batsman registered six centuries in just 21 innings at an average of nearly 72. During the course of the year, he also notched up his third one-day double ton having already become the first batsman ever to hit two.
The Mumbai-man was also given a chance in the Test side as India enjoyed a long home season. He hit two fifties and a century against Sri Lanka in two Tests.
Hence, much was expected from Rohit as India embarked on a long tour of South Africa. Such had been his form that Virat Kohli selected him over Ajinkya Rahane for the first two Tests.
It has been almost a month and a half since Rohit arrived in South Africa at the start of the year and he has yet to register a fifty in eight innings. He was completely out of sorts in the two Test defeats bar one innings of 47 at Centurion. That innings came when the match was already lost.
Rohit had endured a torrid time against Kagiso Rabada.
His scores in the Test series read 11, 10, 10 and 47. His poor showing led to him being dropped for the final Test as India notched up a rare overseas win . If Rohit thought that the ODI series would bring a change in fortunes, he was proven wrong. His highest score so far is 20 after four matches for a poor tally of 40 runs.
The right-handed batsman is fast becoming South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s bunny with his dismissal on Saturday at the Wanderers the sixth time in eight innings that Rohit has fallen to the Proteas pacer.
From the highs of 2017 to the lows in South Africa, it has been a tumultuous ride for Rohit. There is no doubt he has the ability to turn it around soon. But the only question is when will that day come?
