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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker,...

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker, mentor and philanthropist — Dr Samudra has balanced many roles with commitment. While she manages a busy medical practice, her deeper calling has always been service. For her, medicine is not merely a profession but a responsibility towards the people who depend on her guidance. Nagpur to Panvel Born and raised in Nagpur, Dr Samudra completed her medical education there before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. The early years were challenging. With determination, she and her husband Girish Samudra, an entrepreneur involved in underwater pipeline projects, chose to build their life in Panvel. At a time when the town was still developing and healthcare awareness was limited, she decided to make it both her workplace and home. What began with modest resources gradually grew into a trusted medical practice built on long-standing relationships with patients. Fighting Diabetes Recognising the growing threat of diabetes, Dr Samudra dedicated her career to treating and educating patients about the disease. Over the years, she has registered nearly 30,000 patients from Panvel and nearby areas. Yet she believes treatment alone is not enough. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Medicines are important, but patient education is equally critical. If people understand the condition, they can manage it better and prevent complications,” she says. For more than 27 years, she has organised an Annual Patients’ Education Programme, offering diagnostic tests at concessional rates and sessions on lifestyle management. Family, Practice With her husband frequently travelling for business, much of the responsibility of raising their two children fell on Dr Samudra. Instead of expanding her practice aggressively, she kept it close to home and adjusted her OPD timings around her children’s schedules. “It was not easy,” she recalls, “but I wanted to fulfil my responsibilities as a mother while continuing to serve my patients.” Beyond Medicine Today, Dr Samudra also devotes time to social initiatives through the Bharat Vikas Parishad, where she serves as Regional Head. Her projects include  Plastic Mukta Vasundhara , which promotes reduced use of single-use plastic, and  Sainik Ho Tumchyasathi , an initiative that sends Diwali  faral  (snack hamper) to Indian soldiers posted at the borders. Last year alone, 15,000 boxes were sent to troops. Despite decades of service, she measures success not in wealth but in goodwill. “I may not have earned huge money,” she says, “but I have earned immense love and respect from my patients. That is something I will always be grateful for.”

Why Rohit Sharma is Crucial for India’s ODI WC Quest

In the high-stakes theatre of ODI cricket, where India’s quest for a third World Cup title looms large—likely in 2027, but with eyes already on the 2025 Champions Trophy as a dress rehearsal—few players embody the blend of aggression, experience, and leadership quite like Rohit Sharma. The “Hitman”, as he’s aptly nicknamed, isn’t just an opener; he’s the spark that ignites India’s batting engine. With whispers of retirement post-T20 World Cup 2024 and a lean patch in bilateral series, some question his place in the white-ball setup. But stats don’t lie: Rohit is not a luxury; he’s a necessity. Dismissing him would be like handing India a lit fuse without the dynamite.


Let’s start with the numbers that define his batting mastery. Across 262 ODIs as of late 2025, Rohit has amassed 10,709 runs at an average of 49.12 and a blistering strike rate of 104.16—figures that place him among the elite openers in ODI history. His 30 centuries (a record for an Indian in the format) and 55 half-centuries underscore his consistency under pressure. Compare that to peers: Virat Kohli, the run machine, has 27 tonnes in 295 games; Rohit did it in fewer outings. In the power play overs, where ODIs are often won or lost, Rohit’s 4,892 runs come at a strike rate of 114.5, including 18 of those centuries. He doesn’t just build innings; he bulldozes attacks.


World Cups amplify this dominance. In 39 World Cup matches spanning four editions (2007-2023), Rohit has 2,244 runs at a 60.64 average and a 112.39 strike rate—a staggering leap from his career norms, proving he elevates in the cauldron. His 2023 campaign was a masterclass: 597 runs in 11 innings at 54.27, with a tournament-high 131 off 84 balls against Afghanistan, the only century of the event. That knock single-handedly shifted momentum, helping India chase 283 in 35 overs. Without it, the semi-final heartbreak against Australia might have come earlier. Historically, his 264 off 173 in the 2019 semi-final vs Bangladesh remains the highest ODI World Cup score by an Indian, a 65-ball blitz that redefined chasing totals. Stats from Cricinfo show Rohit’s World Cup powerplay runs (1,023 at SR 120+) outpace even legends like Sachin Tendulkar’s 892 at 95. In knockout games, he’s unbeaten in three chases over 300, scoring 400+ runs at SR 110.


Recent form? Critics point to a 2024-25 dip—averaging 32.5 in 12 innings with one fifty—but context matters. Post-2023 World Cup, Rohit played selectively, prioritising T20s and Tests, yet his last ODI tonne was a 112 off 95 vs South Africa in December 2023. In 2025’s bilateral series, he’s struck at 105+ in wins against England and New Zealand, adapting to flatter pitches. Age 38 by 2027? Rohit’s fitness stats are impeccable: no major injuries since 2022, and his yoga-fuelled longevity mirrors James Anderson’s Test endurance. Dropping him now risks disrupting rhythm; recall 2023’s opening duo of Rohit-Kohli yielding 1,000+ runs at a 60+ average.


Beyond the bat, Rohit’s captaincy is the glue. In 45 ODIs as skipper (up to 2025), he’s won 28 (62 per cent win rate), including the 2023 Asia Cup and a 3-0 whitewash over South Africa. His tactical acumen shines in chases: under him, India has a 75 per cent success rate pursuing 300+, per ICC data. He empowers bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav (28 wickets at 4.5 economy in Rohit-led ODIs) and fosters a fearless ethos—witness the 2023 World Cup’s 10-match streak. Alternatives like Shubman Gill (ODI avg 40.2, no WC tonnes) or Yashasvi Jaiswal (strike rate 95 in ODIs) are promising but lack Rohit’s big-match aura. Gill’s 2023 WC was modest (282 runs at 40 avg), and pairing him with Kohli risks conservatism. Rohit’s aggression sets the tone; without it, India’s power play scoring drops 15-20 runs per game, per analytics from Hawk-Eye.


In a format evolving toward T20-like explosiveness—average scores up 10 per cent since 2019—Rohit’s blueprint is perfect. He turns bowlers’ lengths into long hops, pressuring from ball one. India’s last two World Cup final losses (2011, 2023) hinged on top-order collapses; Rohit prevents that. Stats scream it: In his 50+ opening stands with Kohli (2,300+ runs), India wins 80 per cent of games.


Rohit Sharma isn’t chasing nostalgia; he’s the bridge to glory. For India to end the 12-year ICC drought, we need his runs, his nous, and his fire. Bench him, and the dream dims. Keep him, and 2027 could be ours. The Hitman must hit again.


(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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