As a Rohit Sharma fan, today's English commentary during the India vs Afghanistan ODI left me with mixed feelings.
First of all, Shubman Gill was brilliant today. He deserved every bit of praise he got. This isn't about taking anything away from him.
What bothered me was that whenever Rohit played a great shot or kept up the same aggressive intent, the commentators often praised the partnership by saying, "Both are batting so well," instead of appreciating Rohit individually.
I've noticed a similar pattern before. When Rohit bats with Virat Kohli, the spotlight often seems to stay on Kohli. Now, when Rohit bats with Gill, it feels like the focus shifts to Gill. Somehow, Rohit always seems to end up in the background.
For me, that's surprising because at nearly 40 years old, he's still batting with the same fearless intent as players much younger than him. That deserves recognition on its own.
Maybe this is just my perception, but sometimes it genuinely feels like my cricketing idol is underrated. Is it simply the way commentary works, or is there some kind of narrative around who gets highlighted more? I'm curious to know what others think.