Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been central figures in India’s ODI setup for several years, with both batters delivering significant performances in recent matches. Kohli scored a century in Thiruvananthapuram during the India vs West Indies ODI series, while Rohit struck a century in Guwahati during a record chase in the same series. These performances underscore the quality and consistency both players bring to the Indian team.
Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has offered his perspective on the relationship between the two modern greats, drawing from his own experience playing alongside some of cricket’s finest batters. Jaffer played in an era that featured multiple world-class batters in the same team, and he has reflected on how that environment shaped mutual respect among competitors.
“They have played a lot of cricket together. There is a bit of professional rivalry, but eventually you respect each other. When I was playing, there were Sachin, Rahul, Sourav, Laxman, and Sehwag,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
“They were all greats, but that mutual respect was evident. Virat and Rohit are modern greats, and they have a lot of respect for each other. The new generation should learn this from them,” he added.
The professional rivalry and mutual respect between Rohit and Kohli
Rohit’s milestone achievement in the West Indies series added another dimension to the conversation about his standing in ODI cricket. The Mumbai batter became the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach 12,000 ODI runs, a feat that reflects his sustained excellence at the highest level. His unbeaten 101 in Guwahati demonstrated his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations during the series.
Rohit’s transformation as an opener and his sustained excellence
Jaffer has also highlighted how Rohit’s transformation into an opening batter fundamentally changed his career trajectory and impact on Indian cricket. The former batter credited Rohit’s willingness to embrace the opportunity to bat at the top of the order as a turning point in his development as a player.
“Rohit Sharma became Rohit Sharma when he started to open. We saw a different side of Rohit Sharma when he got a chance to open at the 2013 Champions Trophy. He had the talent and potential, but he has never looked back after 2013. Batting in the top-order is the best place in ODIs, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands,” Jaffer concluded.
