Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that the skipper Rohit Sharma has to lead the side with the bat and show his class batting in the spin-friendly conditions in India and effectively use his bowlers for the upcoming five-match Test series against England at home.
Gavaskar speaking to Star Sports said that the Indian skipper will have a massive role to play in the upcoming Test series against England as the home side will look to get back to their dominant ways and take advantage of the home conditions to get the series win over England.
Rohit the Batter
Rohit Sharma has a good batting record under home conditions. So far he has played 24 Tests where he has scored 2002 runs while averaging at 66.73. He has hit a total of 8 centuries and 6 fifties and has a top score of 212 as well. Against England, Rohit managed to score 161 runs in 2021 at the second Test in Chennai when opening the innings which set the platform for India to go on and win the Test.
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Gavaskar recalled the knock where the skipper managed to show how to bat and score the big runs in spin-friendly conditions while also highlighting the importance of what can happen if Rohit can get going. He said,” How he batted in the Chennai Test, he hit a hundred, and it was a very good hundred. He showed how to bat on spin-friendly pitches. If he continues to bat that way, India will get a good start. And it can make No.3 and No. 4 batters’ lives easily.”
Rohit the Captain
India has had a dominant run at home with Rohit Sharma as the skipper. Currently under his captaincy, India has played a total of six games which came in the Test series against Sri Lanka and Australia at home. Only one game was drawn against Australia while the remaining five games were won by India.
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However, Gavaskar highlighted that the skipper would have to use his bowling options effectively whilst also being able to judge him when the tides are against the home side. He said, “As captain, Rohit Sharma will need to use his bowlers cleverly. Usually in Hyderabad, there is not enough turn on offer, so if England bats first and makes a successful start till lunch, there we’ve to see how he uses his bowlers to judge him”.
India will start off the five-match Test series against England with the first game taking place in Hyderabad. England have lost Harry Brook from the squad after the batter pulled out of the tour citing ‘personal reasons.’
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