The burden of expectations

Amid Rohit Sharmas unusual streak of singlefigure scores in the ongoing IPL the India camp maintains a composed stance on the eve of the T20 World CupRenowned as a superstar opener Sharma receives resolute backing to retain his natural freeflowing stroke play despite his recent batting struggles for Mumbai Indians failing to breach double digits in his last five inningsHis subsequent scores 6 against Rajasthan Royals 8 against Delhi Capitals 4 against Lucknow SuperGiants 11 against Kolkata Knight Riders and most recently on Monday 4 against SRH underscore a concerning pattern of consistently registering singledigit scores Moreover thus far in IPL 2024 the seasoned 37yearold has amassed a modest tally of 303 runs across 12 matchesBut if BCCI insiders are to be believed the management is not sweating over the India skipperrsquos lacklustre form of late ldquoWe know he is going to turn things around Of course there are reasons why he is the leader of the pack He may not be at his best in the IPL but comparing a T20 league with the World Cup is plain foolishness He is a proven matchwinner and let us be honest we all have bad days at work We must cut him some slackrdquo a BCCI insider preferring anonymity told MidDay on TuesdayHe added that it is only a matter of time before Sharma returns to his customary form as an opener The former Mumbai Indians skipper has had a demanding season marked by an arduous fiveTest series prior to IPL 2024 representing Mumbai who find themselves virtually out of contention for the playoffs this seasonAlso Read lsquoSuryakumar will have a big influence on T20 World CuprsquoDespite Sharmas uncharacteristic downturn his 900run tally in 39 matches across all World Cups exemplifies his enduring value to the Indian team Besides having made the most appearances by any player in World Cup history Sharmarsquos impeccable 6666 per cent win rate in captaincy at T20 World Cups coupled with his potential to get runs flowing in crucial overs cements his importance in maintaining opening balance alongside other youngsters in the squad Notably in addition to their appearance in the final of the 50over World Cup and the WTC Final last year India under Rohits stewardship advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 T20 World CupExpressing his desire to witness lsquoclose friendrsquo clinch the elusive World Cup trophy former allrounder Yuvraj Singh on Tuesday extolled Sharmarsquos excellence across all facets of the game and highlighted his potential to singlehandedly influence match outcomesRohits presence is going to be very crucial I think we need a really good captain a sensible captain who takes decisions well under pressure And hes the one to take them Yuvraj told ICCIndiarsquos shattering World Cup final defeat last November extended their pursuit of an ICC title to a decade with the most recent triumph dating back to the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhonirsquos leadership ldquoHe was the captain when we lost in the Cricket World Cup 50over final in 2023 He has won five IPL trophies as a captain I think we need somebody like him to captain Indiardquo Singh addedThe inclusion of Suryakumar Yadav Rishabh Pant Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson in the middleorder coupled with Virat Kohlis aggressive role at No3 may offer Sharma opportunities to adapt his innings style A balanced batting order such as this will allow the skipper to instinctively react to match situations a quality that has been pivotal to his decadelong international careerIndias prospects receive a further boost with allrounder and India vicecaptain Hardik Pandyas return to full fitness ensuring the availability of the complete 15player World Cup squad Despite his lackadaisical form in the IPL the 30yearoldrsquos gradual return to bowling fitness indicates a promising outlook for Indias bowling unit