'Easy-going' captain once went for a tour game against Australia without his kit bag, but now boasts a stellar record when it comes to India's rivals in final
AHMEDABAD: Rohit Sharma’s first battle against a star-studded Australia featuring the late Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist would have taken place when he was just 17 in October 2004 at a ground where he would go on to play blazing knocks, the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Former India skipper and former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, who was chief selector of Mumbai back then, wanted to fast-track the talented youngster’s development after seeing him bat in an under-19 game. That is why he instructed coach and former India stumper Chandrakant Pandit to pick him in the XI for Australia’s tour game against Ranji champions Mumbai. All things went to plan, and Rohit was named in the 14. But, on matchday, Rohit arrived at the venue without carrying his kit bag. His simple reason was: “Sir, I thought I would not get to play in the XI. Hence did not carry it.”
