NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma, known for his calm approach and exquisite leadership qualities on the field, surprised many with a strong statement about the idea of natural talent in cricket. Speaking in an interview with senior journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit dismissed the label of “naturally gifted” in a brutally honest manner.“Beekar hai (It’s useless),” Rohit said when asked about natural talent and leadership. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Nothing comes naturally. To appear effortless takes a lot of effort. People don’t see the hard work behind what looks ‘natural’. Whether it’s being a player or a leader, it all comes from hours of work, not magic. I myself started out as a bowler,” he added.Rohit’s comments shed light on the myth of raw talent in Indian cricket, emphasising that behind every great performance lies immense dedication and preparation, not just innate ability.
With 11,168 runs in 273 ODIs and a record highest score of 264, Rohit has proven his value in white-ball cricket. Under his captaincy, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, reinforcing his legacy as one of the game’s top leaders.
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Recently, the 38-year-old called time on his Test career, just weeks before India’s five-Test series against England starting June 20. Over 11 years, he played 67 Tests, scoring 4,301 runs with 12 centuries. His top score of 212 came against South Africa in 2019, a turning point in his red-ball journey.
Though his early Test years were inconsistent, especially in overseas conditions, Rohit bounced back strongly as an opener in the ICC World Test Championship. With 2,716 runs and nine centuries in the WTC era, he became India’s highest run-getter in the competition.While his Test and T20I journeys are over, Rohit continues to lead India in ODIs, with the same message: greatness isn’t gifted, it’s earned.
