'Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Babar Azam..': Wasim Akram Says Rohit Sharma is Peerless While Comparing him to Batting Greats

India captain Rohit Sharma has been setting the tone at the top of the batting order with his aggressive approach in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Among the four players who have scored 500 or more runs so far in the tournament, Rohit has the best strike-rate of 121.5 while averaging an excellent 55.89.

Fast bowling legend Wasim Akram says Rohit changes the tempo of a game and there isn’t a player like him in the world currently, suggesting the Indian star is better than the likes of Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Babar Azam.

Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts. 

“They (India) scored 91 in first 10 overs,” Akram said on ASports while analysing India’s win over the Netherlands in a world cup match on Sunday. “The game was over (by) then. Rohit Sharma scored 61 off 54, eight fours and two sixes. I don’t think there’s a player like him in the world today. We talk about Emperor Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Babar Azam but this guy is different. He makes batting look so easy.”

“Be any situation, any bowling attack, he plays his shots comfortably. He changes the tempo of the game,” he added.

Rohit is the first player in the history to have scored over 500 runs in successive ODI World Cups. He now has 503 runs from nine innings including a century and three fifties in the ongoing tournament.

Against the Netherlands, he provided India another blazing start, hitting a quickfire fifty and was out on 61 off 54.

Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik, who was also part of the discussion, added that Rohit is someone who doesn’t spare anyone in the bowling attack.

“He’s the kind of batter who will pummel all five bowlers (in the opponent team). The names that Wasim bhai has taken, they aren’t going to target all five bowlers – they may target 2-3 but not Rohit,” Malik said.

Together with Shubman Gill (51 off 32), Rohit stitched a century stand while setting the base for a mammoth total of 410/4 in 50 overs.

Netherlands were bowled out for 250 in 47.5 overs as India recorded a 160-run win to remain unbeaten in the league stage.