Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two of the best hitters to have revered Indian cricket. Over the course of their careers, the two stalwarts have worked miracles with the bat, inspiring thousands of budding cricketers. One such rising star who has idolized Kohli and Rohit over the years is Rajat Patidar, the man who could make his ODI debut for India against South Africa on Thursday.
Participating in the Indian team for the 3-match ODI series against South Africa, Patidar has done very well in the domestic cricket spectrum. He also put in some exemplary performances for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Patidar’s consistent performance in domestic cricket did not go unnoticed for long as he was awarded his first national call-up to the 3 ODIs against South Africa. Prior to the first game of the series, Patidar opened up about the impact of idols Kohli and Rohit on his career.
“Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are my idols. It was very special to play and partner with Virat Kohli. Even off the pitch, when I go to him to talk about my percussion, he is always helpful. Having a chance to share the locker room with your idols, which not everyone gets in life, is really special. There are many lessons I learned from him, both on and off the field,” Patidar said in an interview with Cricket Addictor.
Patidar has formed some key partnerships with Kohli during the IPL 2022 season and has also provided insight into the kind of conversations he had with the Native American hero during the IPL.
“He always asks me to support my game and also shares his views on my batting. He tries to give me some pointers, which I try to add to my batting to improve my overall game,” he said.
When asked about some past cricket stars that Patidar admires, he took the name Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. When it comes to non-cricket sports stars, Cristiano Ronaldo topped Patidar’s list.
“When I was young I admired Sachin (Tendulkar) sir and Rahul (Dravid) sir. At the moment there are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma because they are all perfect players for all sizes and have performed consistently for the national team.
promoted
“In other sports I admire Cristiano Ronaldo because he has always been at the top for so long. Every time he is hungry to stay on top of the game. The way he handles his training and routine and his work ethic are just unbelievable. Every time he wants to fight for the top position, this mentality to always win is really inspiring,” he said.
Batter Indore hopes to receive his debut cap on Thursday when the Indian team faces South Africa in Lucknow.
Topics mentioned in this article