NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Arun Dhumal praised Team India’s impressive bench strength while highlighting the talent of 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He also lauded “greats” Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their class, conviction, and work ethic. Dhumal expressed confidence that Rohit and Kohli are far from done in the 50-over format, applauding Rohit’s batting masterclass in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against Australia, where he was named Player of the Series.Rohit and Kohli shrugged off the rust and lack of rhythm from the first two ODIs — both defeats — to launch a stunning counterattack against Australia in the third ODI. Chasing 237, the duo powered India to victory with Rohit slamming an unbeaten 121* and Virat anchoring the innings with a rock-solid, risk-free 74*.
The performance sent a strong signal — the icons are not done yet and remain serious contenders for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.“We’ve been talking about this bench strength of the Indian team for a long, long time. But look at this team, a 14-year-old wonder, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, he’s knocking at the door to be part of the team. And then you have these greats like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who people think are going, but they are not going. They are here to stay. And the way Rohit has shown his class in this ODI series, at that age, coming as player of the match in the final match and then player of the series, that shows the kind of conviction that they carry, the kind of hard work that they put in. When it comes to Team India, they will want to give it their best. And that is the true reflection of a sportsman. And my best wishes to both of them. They have done wonderful. They have given their life to Indian cricket,” Dhumal told ANI.The Australia series was a testament to Rohit’s grit, determination, and match-winning ability.From struggling with a single-digit score in Perth to grinding out a valuable 97-ball 73 in Adelaide — where he curbed his natural attacking instincts — and finally unleashing a blistering unbeaten 121 off 125 balls in Sydney, the ‘Hitman’ experienced it all in this 202-run series. He showed the world that his eyes remain firmly set on the 2027 World Cup, determined to meet every fitness and cricketing goal along the way.Following his stellar performance against Australia, Rohit created history on Wednesday by becoming the No. 1-ranked batter in the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for the first time in his career. He climbed two spots to the top after his unbeaten century in the Sydney ODI, leading India to an emphatic nine-wicket triumph.Rohit’s consistency saw him surpass Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and India teammate Shubman Gill, claiming the top ODI batter ranking for the first time. The 38-year-old has remained a fixture in the top 10 for most of the past decade.
