'Very good sign' - Navjot Singh Sidhu on Rohit Sharma’s reaction to Virat Kohli's century
Sidhu weighed in on his observations on the Indian side's bonding after their recent six-wicket triumph against Pakistan.
Sunday, February 23 was a memorable day for Indian cricket as they emerged triumphant over Pakistan by a six-wicket margin in Match 5 of the ongoing Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After skittling out Pakistan for 241, Virat Kohli bossed the chase, finishing with an unbeaten century.
Ex-cricketer-turned-commentator, Navjot Sidhu, pointed out skipper Rohit Sharma's joyous reaction from the dugout after his longtime teammate got to his 51st ODI ton. Through Rohit's emotions, he shed light on the positive team chemistry within the Indian setup. He also remarked that the rich culture prevalent at present will help the team immensely after the two seasoned campaigners hang up their boots in the future.
“More than what Virat Kohli did, what I saw today was Rohit Sharma's beaming face. When Virat Kohli scores that 100, you look at that face. No one can whistle a symphony, it takes an orchestra to play it. It's a team game and when the team takes pride in a fellow countryman's performance, that is a very good sign. That means that you're a well-knit, cohesive unit playing as one family, taking pride in the other fellow. Taking pride in the other fellow is the inspiration for generation next," SIdhu told Star Sports.
"These two will pass on the baton. When they do it, it's a matter of time. 3 years, 2 years, you could say that. You know, it's easy to be a part of someone's pain but to be a part of someone's happiness, that is the sign of bonhomie and that is the sign of camaraderie. I look at those small things which in the end make a huge difference in a team game,” he added.
Kohli is a once-in-a-generation cricketer, a Kohinoor: Navjot Singh Sidhu
The former opener also elaborated on what the ace batter brought to the game. Right from commending his cover drive to appreciating his stunning numbers while chasing targets, Sidhu was lavish in praise for Kohli's overall contribution as a role model if the game.
“Look, when you assess Virat Kohli, what is his trademark? If I look at Sachin Tendulkar, it was always the backfoot punch that he would give. Look at Gavaskar, the straight drive. When you look at Virat Kohli, it's the cover drive. And when he gets his head on top of the ball and he's cover-driving beautifully, you know he's back. If you look at the initial part of his innings, if you look at these drives, you know that this is the Virat Kohli of old," he said.
"And to me, it's the character that he exhibited when the chips were down. These are the people who've inspired the kids on the streets. For the game to grow, you need role models, who are above everything. Virat Kohli is a once-in-a-generation cricketer, a Kohinoor (one of the largest cut diamonds in the world). You must understand the value that he brings to international cricket - 99 innings, and an average of 89.6 in successful chases means that he handles pressure without allowing it to affect him. And the tougher it gets, the more he thrives in that situation. That's the hallmark of a great cricketer,” added Sidhu.
Meanwhile, India extended their dominance over their arch-rivals in the 50-over format. Since the Champions Trophy final loss in 2017, this was their fifth win in six games against the Men in Green (excluding a washed out fixture).
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