Why were Rohit and Virat given an ‘out-of-the-box’ honour in Vadodara?
Vadodara: Ahead of the first ODI of the series, in which India defeated New Zealand by four wickets here on Sunday, the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) accorded a unique and special felicitation to two stalwarts of Indian cricket – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The unusual honour has become a major talking point in the cricketing world.
The special ceremony was conducted by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, BCA President Pranav Amin and BCCI President Mithun Manhas, among other senior officials. The event was organised to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Rohit and Virat.
Both players were made to stand inside box-like enclosures featuring their life-size cut-outs. When they were called out, Rohit and Virat stepped down proudly with smiles on their faces, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
Reasons behind the unique honour
There are believed to be several important reasons behind this ‘out-of-the-box’ felicitation. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two of India’s greatest modern-day cricketers. At present, they are ranked world No.1 and world No.2 respectively among ODI batsmen. They are widely regarded as two of the finest batsmen of the modern era.
Both players have already retired from T20 Internationals and Test cricket, and may announce their retirement from ODIs at any time. Moreover, Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium has only recently received BCCI accreditation. Local cricket authorities felt that this could possibly be the last time Rohit and Virat play in Vadodara, and they may not return here again.
Considering all these factors, the hosts decided to give them a grand and memorable farewell-style honour.