Virat Kohli’s appeal to Rohit Sharma - share ‘double ton handbook’ | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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Virat Kohli’s appeal to Rohit Sharma - share ‘double ton handbook’

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Dec 19, 2017 07:30 PM IST

Virat Kohli married Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in Florence last week. On a break from international matches, the Indian captain is slowly turning his focus towards cricket and is in awe of Rohit Sharma’s form

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are on a thanksgiving mode after their Italian wedding last week. India’s cricket captain and the Bollywood actress have been taking off from their European honeymoon to reply to hundreds of Twitter messages congratulating them on their wedding.

Rohit Sharma and Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli (left) will be crucial to India’s fortunes on the upcoming tour of South Africa from December end. Rohit has been standing in as captain in the ongoing limited overs series versus Sri Lanka as Kohli has taken a break for his wedding with Anushka Sharma.(AFP)
Rohit Sharma and Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli (left) will be crucial to India’s fortunes on the upcoming tour of South Africa from December end. Rohit has been standing in as captain in the ongoing limited overs series versus Sri Lanka as Kohli has taken a break for his wedding with Anushka Sharma.(AFP)

Virat Kohli, the quintessential cricket pro that he is, has not let the party mood overtake his focus on the India versus Sri Lanka limited overs series and Rohit Sharma’s batting form seems to have particularly impressed him.

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Rohit Sharma has been filling in as India captain in Kohli’s absence. The Mumbai Indians batsman led India to a 2-1 win in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and is currently the fifth best ODI batsman in the world on the strength of his double century in the Mohali ODI on December 23.

A ‘veteran’ in terms of being a married man -- Rohit Sharma married his girl-friend-cum-manager Ritika on December 13, 2015 -- the Mumbai batsman jokingly offered ‘tips’ for a successful marriage to his captain. But Kohli’s interest lies elsewhere -- big runs!

“Please do share the Double Hundred handbook as well,” tweeted Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma. That was more of a tribute to the only person who has scored three double centuries in ODIs. Rohit also has the highest ODI score in the world -- 264 against Sri Lanka at Kolkata on November 13,2014. His first double century (209) came against Australia at Bangalore on November 2,2013.

With a series of challenging tours coming up in 2018, Virat Kohli’s batting form will be crucial to India’s fortunes on wickets that will assist the quick bowlers.

Before he took the break for his wedding with Anushka Sharma, Kohli was in outstanding form in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka at home.

Kohli set a new Indian record of most runs in a three-match series by making 610 runs at 152.50 with three hundreds and one fifty in six innings of three Tests.

His 610 is the fourth most by a batsman in a three-Test series. The record for this is held by England’s Graham Gooch, who made 752 runs against India in 1990.

Against Sri Lanka, only Brian Lara, with 688 runs in 2001-02, has done better than Virat Kohli. Virender Sehwag, who scored 544 runs at 90.66 with two hundreds and one fifty in six innings of three Tests against Pakistan at home in 2004-05, held the previous Indian record.

Rohit Sharma being congratulate by Virat Kohli after completing his century during the 5th ODI against Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on October 1, 2017. (PTI)
Rohit Sharma being congratulate by Virat Kohli after completing his century during the 5th ODI against Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on October 1, 2017. (PTI)

Virat Kohli will do well to live in the present. He knows that runs and records count for nothing if the team doesn’t do well. The new year will be a tough one on the road and if the runs don’t come thick and fast on the tours of South Africa and England, all the fun and frolic will be consigned to the backburner.

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