IND vs SA: "Rohit Sharma Has To Change His Approach..." - Sunil Gavaskar
Published - 25 Dec 2023, 12:02 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:24 AM
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is optimistic about Rohit Sharma’s upcoming batting display in the Test series against South Africa. Sunil Gavaskar emphasized the importance of Rohit Sharma adapting his mindset to meet the specific demands of Test cricket.
Rohit Sharma will lead India in the two-match Test series against South Africa, with the first match scheduled to commence in Centurion on December 26. Sharma has a golden opportunity to become the first Indian skipper to win a red-ball series in the Rainbow Nation.
The 36-year-old batter has a commendable record against South Africa in Test matches, accumulating 678 runs in nine matches at an average of 42.37. However, his struggles are evident in South Africa, with just 123 runs in four Tests at a disappointing average of 15.37.
That Was His Approach For The World Cup – Sunil Gavaskar
Speaking on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar emphasized that Rohit Sharma must adjust his mindset for Test cricket. Gavaskar said that Rohit aimed to capitalize on field restrictions in the 2023 World Cup with his aggressive mindset.
“First and foremost, the challenge would be to get your mental state into a Test match situation,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“He has been batting in the one-day format, where he had decided that he would be playing the attacking role and try and score as much as possible before the field restrictions were lifted in the first 10 overs. We saw that in the World Cup. That was his approach for the World Cup,” he added.
Rohit Sharma Will End Up With 150-Plus – Sunil Gavaskar
The former cricketer emphasized the need for Rohit Sharma to adopt a mindset geared toward batting throughout the day in Test cricket. Gavaskar suggested that Rohit has the potential to contribute to India achieving a score exceeding 300.
“That’s the change he has to do. As a batter, when you are batter-captain, the moment you score run, your confidence in leading the side also increases. That’s going to be a big challenge for Rohit Sharma,” Gavaskar further added.
Rohit Sharma To Open Innings Alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal In First Test
Rohit is expected to open alongside young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Shubman Gill taking the No. 3 position. Virat Kohli will bat in his position, followed by KL Rahul, who will don the wicketkeeping gloves for the Indian team in red-ball cricket for the first time.
Pacer Mohammed Shami’s absence will be felt in the upcoming series due to his formidable record in South Africa. Shami has taken 35 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 23.23 in that country. Mukesh Kumar or Prasidh Krishna will replace him in the first match.
