England vs India 2021: Aakash Chopra Reveals Rohit Sharma's Formula That Worked While Opening In Tests

Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra analyzed Rohit Sharma’s different approach while opening in tests that have worked for him so far in his short test campaign. The right-hander has been one of the best batsmen in the last five years in world cricket in limited-overs cricket, and he has slowly crept his way up the ladder in test cricket as well.

He was given the opportunity to open in tests in the 2019 home series against South Africa, and it paid off immediately as he scored consecutive centuries in the same test. He looked like a completely different batsman when he was batting in the middle order for India in tests in the past.

Aakash Chopra Explains The Changes Rohit Has Made

Aakash Chopra explained the way Rohit has made a bigger stride on the front foot and how he has restricted himself to playing close to the body, rather than pushing at deliveries. He added that Rohit hasn’t been playing through the line and is waiting on his back foot for the bowler to bowl a short delivery. He added that Rohit tried to correct his mistakes in the World Test Championship even if he couldn’t make a big score.

“Since he (Rohit Sharma) started opening in Tests, there has been a change in his batting. The front-foot stride has become a little longer and the hands are staying closer to the body. Though he didn’t get a big score in the World Test Championship final, he made a sincere effort to modify his game to suit the conditions in both innings.” 

“Even while the front-foot stride was significantly longer, he didn’t look to play through the line or on the up. He defended patiently off the front foot, waiting for the ball to be really full or short, and then he cashed in.”Aakash Chopra opined

Aakash Chopra Reckons The Different Started From 2019

Aakash Chopra mentioned that he has been seeing the difference from the South Africa series in 2019 until the World Test Championship. He even noted about the home series against England this year where Rohit looked the best out of the Indian batsmen on display in tough spinning conditions.

“The WTC final wasn’t an isolated incident illustrating the difference in Sharma’s approach in Tests. His century in Chennai and half-century in Ahmedabad, against England earlier this year, and his double-century in Ranchi against South Africa in October 2019 showed those patterns.” He added

Rohit Sharma will be the first choice opener for the five-match test series against England starting on August 4.