Rohit Sharma's Actual Challenge As Test Opener Will Come Overseas: Gautam Gambhir
Published - 26 Jul 2020, 08:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:32 AM
Rohit Sharma is undeniably a giant of limited-overs cricket and has already entrenched himself as one of the greatest opening batsmen. From remaining in and out of the team as the middle-order batsman, things took a turn for the best when Rohit Sharma began opening.
His 7000 out of 9000 runs in One-day internationals have come while batting at the top-order.
As far as the right-handed batsman’s Test career goes, he made a brilliant hundred on his debut back in 2013. However, he remained inconsistent in whites even as his white-ball form remained at peak. It was his October 2019 that the 33-year old batted for the first time at the top and records came tumbling. Against South Africa, he smashed 529 runs in three Tests at home with three centuries including one double.
According to Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma has unparalleled numbers at home in white-ball cricket and is even better than Virender Sehwag, who was destructive in his own right. However, as a Test opener, his real challenge will arrive when it comes to performing in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and England. While the Nagpur-born could not partake in the two-Test series against New Zealand earlier this year, he would most likely be touring Australia for four Tests later this year.
“I think the real challenge will be when Rohit Sharma goes to Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa. He will always get runs in India, he is a fabulous white-ball cricketer probably a better record than any of us and a better record than Virender Sehwag as well in limited-overs cricket,” Gambhir stated in the Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.
I hope Rohit Sharma can be as successful as Sehwag in Test cricket: Gautam Gambhir
While admitting that Rohit is an unbelievable white-ball batsman, Gambhir did not fail to admire Sehwag, who excelled in both forms. The 38-year old reminded that his former teammate has two triple-centuries in Test cricket, which shows his versatility. Hence, the World Cup-winner terms Tests as a different ball-game and hopes for Rohit to flourish in it equally well.
“But Test cricket is a different ball-game. Yes, I could see some glimpses of it but let’s see where his career goes. Virender Sehwag has got two triple-hundreds so I hope that Rohit Sharma can be as successful as Virender Sehwag in Test cricket,” he added.
