Irfan Pathan Reckons Rohit Sharma Can Have The Same Impact As Virender Sehwag In Test Cricket

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan engaged in a conversation with Gautam Gambhir in the Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected, discussing Rohit Sharma’s future in Test cricket. Gautam Gambhir cited the example of Virender Sehwag’s versatility, having succeeded in both Test and limited-overs cricket equally. While acknowledging that Rohit Sharma is a terrific white-ball player, Gambhir has reservations whether he can create a Sehwag-like impact in Tests.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Is Fitness Conscious, He Has Set The Standard: Ex-India Physiotherapist

However, Irfan Pathan thinks otherwise. As Gambhir cited that Rohit’s real challenge as a Test opener will come outside the sub-continent, Pathan backs him to play as Sehwag did.

While the 33-year-old has been opening in coloured clothing since 2013, it was only last year that he batted at the top order in Tests. The right-handed batsman smashed 529 runs against South Africa at home in three Tests, including three centuries.

According to Irfan Pathan, Rohit Sharma can make an impact like Virender Sehwag; however, it is a question of whether he can play that many Tests. The 35-year old added that the Nagpur-born batsman would undoubtedly remain one of the greats in white-ball cricket, but he might not get that many Test caps.

“There will be always a question on longevity because Sehwag has played 100 Test matches. Rohit Sharma is a champion in ODI cricket, he will be in my top 3 openers of ODI history. If we talk of Test matches, he will be a little behind because he may not be able to play that many matches,” the Baroda born stated.

The former left-arm seamer reminded of the 33-year old’s impact in Tests and ODIs, scoring double-hundreds in both the format. Pathan believes that provided his fitness; he can have a flourishing Test career like Sehwag.

“We also got to see the double-century in Test cricket that we had already seen in ODIs when he came as an opener. The more matches he will play in the coming years, subject to his keeping fit, he can have a similar impact like Virender Sehwag,” he added.

We have seen that recently when he started playing as an opener in Test cricket: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan further said that opening in Test cricket has given his long-format career more clarity since the runs have started to flow. As a middle-order batsman in Test cricket, the flamboyant batsman was not able to perform as consistently as the team would have liked.

“We have seen that recently when he started playing as an opener in Test cricket. The whole career of Rohit Sharma in Test cricket looks different now. Because when he was a middle-order batsman in Test cricket, he was not performing to the extent we expect out of him,” Pathan stated further.

Also Read: Michael Atherton Backs Stuart Broad To Reach Milestone Of 600 Test Wickets