Captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid attend a practice session ahead of their Asia Cup ODI against Pakistan in Pallekele on September 1, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP

Daddy hundreds. That’s the term associated with Rohit Sharma, the ODI batter.

In the recent past though, the India captain — the only batter with three double hundreds in the 50-over-a-side format — has adopted a different strategy of preferring strike rate improvement over putting a price tag on his wicket.

However, ahead of the marquee clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Rohit has hinted at returning to his old self for the big stage.

“I have played for so long, it’s important to use that experience and give the team what it needs from my end. My effort is to do that. In the last two years, I have played a different style of cricket, I have played taking a lot of risks,” Rohit said on Friday.

Since the start of 2022, Rohit has tallied 632 runs from 17 matches, with a solitary hundred. While his average has dipped to 45.14 as against 48.96 till the end of 2021, his strike rate has escalated from 88.90 to 109.15.

“I have to find that balance. I need to understand when to take risks and when not to. As a top-order batter, it’s (an) important role, to get the team to a good position. I need to learn to get into the rhythm and then play the long game better. I was taking more risks in the last year, but I failed to bring balance in doing so. I will try and do that now.”

Rohit, in the past, has shown the ability to walk the talk. If the India captain can regain his mojo of scoring big without letting his strike rate dip for the next two months, it will be a major boost to India’s hopes of lifting its maiden World title in over a decade.