India ride on Rohit’s class to seal ODI series

After his masterly knock that sealed the one-day series victory 3-0, Rohit Sharma can be proclaimed as the next big star of Indian cricket.

He has always possessed an abundance of talent, starting with the patent Mumbai shot of tucking away to the leg side in style. But the 24-year-old showed nothing can stop him from breaking into the Test squad and he will be a potent force to take India forward soon.

The 24-year-old walked in with India for the first time looking fragile under pressure on this Caribbean tour. Sharma hit rival skipper Darren Sammy, pumped up after taking two wickets in two deliveries, for a six and four to settle down. He made scoring runs look so easy.

Harbhajan Singh is increasingly pulling his weight in the young side, always ready to show his talented team mates the way. With India reeling at 92 for six, he soaked in a lot of pressure to allow Sharma to steady the innings.

India won by three wickets in the end, finishing on 228 for seven in 46.2 overs after young bowling all-rounder Andre Russell’s unbeaten 64-ball 92 kept West Indies in the game.

Class apart
Sharma's second fifty of the series, after his match-winning effort in the first ODI in Trinidad, was a display of his class and timing, including the drive past cover that has become almost unstoppable for the struggling West Indies.

But it was his focus, despite the searing heat and humidity, that underlined the newfound determination of the batsman.

Despite leg spinner Devendra Bishoo’s impressive spell once again, Harbhajan and Sharma raised 88 runs in 18.4 overs to turn things around.

After Harbhajan fell, Praveen Kumar eased pressure with a quickfire 25 before Sharma fittingly brought up the winning boundary.