The Indian cricket team captain, Rohit Sharma, has always known how to bind the team with camaraderie and acknowledge performances that deserve the limelight. This attribute was once again on public display when Sharma took to Instagram to express his delight over the contribution of India’s young guns following their monumental victory against England in the third Test at Rajkot.
The match will be chronicled in history as one with record statistics—India set an astronomical target of 556 for England to chase. Relentlessly, the Men in Blue dismantled the English batting cadence, skittling them out for a paltry 122. This led to a mammoth and memorable victory by a staggering margin of 434 runs, which is India’s largest in terms of runs.
What made this victory even sweeter was the impactful inclusion of several young players, who constituted the vital pieces in this win. Post the success, Sharma expressed his appreciation for this fresh talent via a poignant Instagram story which featured a collage. The images captured the echoes of victory; from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan celebrating the former’s double-century to Dhruv Jurel’s agile stumping that led to a key run-out. The captivating caption read “ye aajkal ke bacche,” a Hindi phrase translating to “these kids nowadays,” showcasing a blend of fondness and pride for the youthful brigade.
Rohit Sharma’s post rapidly gained viral status, causing a wave of admiration and affection to ripple through social media platforms. Fans joined in to laud the gesture with posts echoing the sentiment. One user shared, “Rohit Sharma Instagram Story For Youngsters Ye Aajkal Ke Bacche -These Day Kids,” while another remarked, “‘ye aajkal ke bacche’ what a line of captain Rohit Sharma’s Instagram story dedicated to youngsters #YashasviJaiswal #DhruvJurel #SarfarazKhan.”
The young players indeed stood up to the occasion, and Sharma didn’t shy away from complimenting them during the post-match interviews as well. He acknowledged the decision to push Ravindra Jadeja up the order to maintain a left-right combination and praised Sarfaraz Khan for making the most of the time he got in the middle. Sharma was particular in mentioning the potential of Sarfaraz and Jaiswal, hoping that their career would continue to ascend from this point.
In a match where India was without the likes of stalwarts Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, the commendable efforts of Sarfaraz and Jaiswal did not go unnoticed. Their excellence, along with the experience of Sharma and Jadeja, formed an impenetrable force. Dhruv Jurel, on his debut, likewise impressed with a well-composed 46 in the first innings and exhibited remarkable wicketkeeping skills behind the stumps. He showed great temperament while facing formidable spinners like Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
It was a comprehensive performance by the Indian team, with every player contributing to a win that will be remembered for years. However, the stand-out story from this match was the way the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma not only led his team to victory but also took the time to shine a light on the performances of the emerging talents.
Such gestures by seasoned campaigners like Sharma not only motivate the newcomers but also fortify the team spirit. They underline the ethos of nurturing the young and recognizing their endeavors, which ultimately shapes the future of Indian cricket. With the ensuing matches and series, the cricketing fraternity will keenly watch these ‘aajkal ke bacche’ evolve into tomorrow’s legends under the guiding hand of their accomplished captain.
