You Cannot Curb Your Natural Instincts For A Long Period Of Time - Zaheer Khan On Rohit Sharma Throwing Away His Wicket After Getting A Start

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan shared his views about Rohit Sharma‘s recent failures to convert his starts into a big score, especially in overseas conditions. In the first innings of the Trent Bridge Test, the Indian opener was well-placed for an immense knock.

After having played over 100 balls for 36 runs and laid the foundation for his and India’s innings, Sharma got out playing a pull shot at the stroke of lunch. It opened the gates for the hosts and they elicited an Indian collapse from 97/0 to 112/4 before rain halted the game.

Zaheer Khan said while the Indian opener is capable of recording the big scores, he has struggled to refrain from his attacking instincts for a longer period of time when in the middle, which has led to his dismissals despite getting his eye in.

“He had done the hard work. Not only in this innings, but before as well. When natural instinct takes over after having dealt with the initial tough phase of play, he, unfortunately, loses his wicket.

“You cannot curb your natural instinct for a long period of time. He played over 100 deliveries, he got through the tough time, so he already did the job for his team,” Zaheer Khan said while speaking with Cricbuzz.

He is fulfilling his responsibility for the team at the top of the order: Zaheer Khan

It was also the third time in a row – twice in the WTC final when he scored 34 and 30 – that Sharma had reached the 30 run mark but failed to convert on his start.

However, Zaheer Khan highlighted the positive note of Sharma’s recent overseas knocks: that he is biding time in the middle, tiring the pacers out, and putting up a decent platform for the middle-order to cash in on. The former seamer remains confident that the right-hander will soon hit a big knock.

“He is fulfilling his responsibility for the team at the top of the order by seeing out the tough phase and then he brings out his natural game where it’s about converting 40s into 100s, something in which he is very proficient. I’m sure you’ll see a big knock from him soon,”

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