Melbourne, Dec 22: As captain Rohit Sharma struggles to find his rhythm in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former India coach Ravi Shastri advises the elegant batsman to approach the game with a focused mindset, adapt his strategy, and take the initiative against the bowlers.
Rohit was unable to participate in the opening Test in Australia due to the arrival of his second child. Although he was expected to reclaim his opening position, KL Rahul’s impressive 77 in India’s victory at Perth led to a reshuffle in the batting order, dropping Rohit to the No.6 spot.
Unfortunately, this shift has not helped Rohit, who has scores of 10, 3, and 6 in his last three innings, while Rahul capitalized on his opportunity with a stellar 84 in Brisbane’s third Test.
“I’d like to see Rohit Sharma change his tactics a little because he can still be incredibly effective at that number (six),” Shastri commented on ICC Review.
“He needs to be clear in his mindset—he should be looking to take the attack to the opposition without concern for anything else,” added the former cricketer-turned-commentator.
Shastri emphasized that Rohit must abandon a defensive approach.
“The last thing you want is for him to hesitate between defense and attack. For him, it should be all about aggression. He reads length quickly, and at that position, he should challenge the opponents wholeheartedly.
“If he settles in the first 10-15 minutes and gets through that initial phase, he’ll be able to build momentum. So why not play naturally and take the fight to the opposition right from the start?” Shastri asserted that this is the most effective way for Rohit to regain his form and contribute to India’s victories, noting that the best No.6 batsmen in the world are adept at countering attacks.
“I believe that’s the best method for him to not only return to form but also help win matches for India, as that position is pivotal.” Shastri continued, “The best No.6 players are those who possess the ability to counter-attack effectively and can read match situations adeptly. Yes, if numerous wickets fall, he may need to play cautiously for a time, but his intent should emerge sooner rather than later.
“Particularly given his caliber and having opened the batting for India, he has all the shots suited for Australian conditions.” Rohit made his Test debut in 2013 at the No. 6 position, marking the occasion with a century.
Shastri expressed support for Rahul to maintain the opener’s role in the upcoming fourth Test, given his two half-centuries in the five-Test series.
“I would have preferred Rohit to open in the last Test (Brisbane), but considering Rahul’s recent performance, he has been a pleasure to watch, hitting a purple patch,” Shastri noted.
“He might want to hold on to that position and continue to enhance his game because his technique has been impeccable,” Shastri remarked.
The former India captain highlighted that Rahul is currently performing at his peak with high confidence levels.
“The way he leaves the ball, allows it to come onto the bat, and executes his cover drives are among the best seen in world cricket today. With such confidence, he should be allowed to continue.” (Agencies)
