Rohit's hallmark ability to score big, terrific to watch him lead India: Dravid

INDORE : Ahead of his side's third ODI against New Zealand in Indore, Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid praised opener and skipper Rohit Sharma for his "complete game" and said the batter's hallmark is the ability to score big while adding that it is always terrific to watch him lead the side.

"He has been a phenomenal player for India. He started as a precarious talent. When I saw him for the first time at 17-18, we thought we were looking at something different. He has proved that. Not a lot of kids go on to reach their potential. But he has achieved his potential and has been a great servant for Indian cricket. His turning point was the opening. His hallmark has been his performances in ICC events and ability to score big. He has a complete game. He has been batting well for us, terrific to watch him bat and lead the side," said Dravid.

Rohit failed to cross the 1,000-run mark in international cricket last year and could not hit a century, but he has largely looked in supreme touch in ODIs this year. In five ODIs this year, he has scored 227 runs at an average of 45.40 and a strike rate of over 100 with two half-centuries. He has not hit an ODI century since 2020.

Dravid said that the side has managed to narrow down on players it wants available for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup this year in October and the focus is that they play as much ODI cricket as they can, give it priority over other formats.

"Over the last three years, there have been two T20 World Cups, that we have finished. This World Cup as well (50-over WC this year). The focus last year was on T20 World Cup and preparations around that. World Test Championship is a continuous cycle, something that always exists in the background and needs to stay in your mind. Last year, along with that (WTC), the idea was to prioritise T20 WC. Now that tournament is done and priority has shifted to the 50-over WC and stay prepared well for that in October. It is a challenge since its three formats and you need to choose which ones to prioritise," said Dravid in a pre-match press conference.

"We are already five ODI games down this year and have more games coming up. We have narrowed down on players that we want for the 50-over WC to a large extent. We are almost there. It is about ensuring that they play more ODI cricket and prioritise it," added the head coach.

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