Rohit Sharma intimidated team England in the 1st ODI? Pietersen claims

An extended struggle with form is rarely enough to tarnish the rich legacy a player has built over the years. A clear example of this was seen in the first India vs England ODI when skipper Rohit Sharma took the field in Nagpur. Rohit has faced immense criticism for his prolonged struggles with run-scoring. Moreover, he bore the brunt of India's disastrous Test season, which culminated in a 3-1 loss in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The turmoil within the Indian setup deepened further when internal discussions from the squad surfaced. Overall, things have been far from favorable for senior Indian players, especially Rohit Sharma, in recent times. However, despite the scrutiny, it still doesn’t overshadow the unwavering love and support fans continue to show for the Mumbai batter.

Kevin Pietersen dazzled by Rohit Sharma's aura in the first India vs England ODI

The much-anticipated India vs England ODI series kicked off in Nagpur as India returned to the format after an extended wait. The match went fared mostly in favor of the hosts as they outperformed the visitors in every department. India clinched the victory by 4 wickets as Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer played the starring role in the clash. However, despite the team's fairly impressive performance, Rohit Sharma carried his dismal form to this format as well. Opening the chase with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit failed to impress as he departed at just 2 against pacer Saqib Mahmood.

However, as noted by former English player Kevin Pietersen, Rohit Sharma received great support from the crowd in Nagpur. As England’s innings wrapped up at 248, Rohit Sharma emerged from the dressing room in full batting gear, drawing thunderous applause from the Nagpur crowd. The electrifying reception didn’t go unnoticed, with former England captain Kevin Pietersen emphasizing the deep emotional connection Indian fans share with their cricketing icons.

“Honestly, it's unbelievable. Rohit Sharma exits the dressing room, and the crowd goes absolutely mental. It's remarkable how big stars these guys are. That's why he re-emphasise the point; enjoy these stars while they are around. Look at the emotions in the entire stadium when a guy like Rohit Sharma walks down those steps,” said Pietersen.

Pietersen furthermore observed how England’s players instinctively turned their gaze toward Rohit, seemingly captivated by the deafening cheer, underscoring the intimidating aura of India’s skipper. Despite Sharma's disappointing knock, India kept the control to themselves as Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel delivered crucial half-centuries to steer the hosts to a four-wicket win.

“Can I tell you something. When Rohit Sharma walked down, we had visuals of the England dressing room. When the whole crowd went up, all of the England team started staring at him. That's intimidating, that's aura, and that's something he created; not because he's Rohit Sharma, but because of the runs he scored, because of his average,” said Pietersen.