IND vs NZ: Wasim Jaffer extols skipper Rohit Sharma after latter's match-winning ton

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has expressed his pleasure on Indian skipper Rohit Sharma returning back to form leading into the ODI World Cup, which is likely to be played later this year.

Jaffer's comments came after Rohit Sharma's exceptional performance in the 3rd ODI versus New Zealand on Tuesday, January 24 as the India skipper struck a brilliant century to give team India the ideal momentum to capitalise on. He slammed 101 off only 85 balls, featuring in a 212-run opening stand with Shubman Gill (112 off 78).

Vintage Rohit Sharma: Wasim Jaffer

“Rohit has been in magnificent form in this series. He’s looking like the vintage Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill is just carrying on from the last 2-3 innings. You understand that it’s not going to be like that throughout that 50 overs,” the 44-year-old had said to ESPNcricinfo.

Jaffer emphasised on the fact that by Rohit's innings in the 3rd ODI, the 35-year-old looked to have done his homework perfectly and improved his performance a lot. Jaffer went on to review Rohit's performance stating that the opening batter has luckily found his mojo just in time and he looked like the old 'dangerous batter', who could trouble the opposition bowlers with much ease.

Speaking about India's performance in the 3rd ODI, Jaffer very clearly justified that the reason India lost wickets so easily, after the double-century stand of Rohit and Shubman Gill got broken, was because the momentum had been disrupted which the openers had provided. He gave full credit to the opening duo of Rohit and Gill for providing an outstanding start.

“When the openers give you such a blistering start, in 50 overs it’s very difficult to bat at 9-10 an over for such a long period. You’ve got to give credit to how Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started the innings. Even though it was a good wicket, small boundaries, the way they played, it didn’t look like they were slogging. There were pure cricketing shots and they showed their class,” Jaffer concluded.

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