ICC T20 World Cup 2022: “No Idea Why He Is Doing That” – Rohit Sharma's Coach Dinesh Lad On His “Overly Aggressive Game”

Dinesh Lad, the coach of Rohit Sharma, is disappointed with the Indian captain’s “overly aggressive game” with the bat in T20Is in recent times and he feels that the 35-year-old should drop his “high-risk game”.

Veteran opener Rohit Sharma, who has adopted an attacking brand of cricket in recent times, failed miserably in the high-voltage India-Pakistan ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday as he was able to score just 4 runs off 7 balls. In the T20 World Cup warm-up game against Australia, he scored just 14 runs. Also, his last T20I half-century came against Sri Lanka in a losing cause on September 6 during the Asia Cup 2022.

ICC Teams  Rankings | ICC Players Rankings

Speaking to PTI, Dinesh Lad expressed his disappointment over Rohit Sharma’s high-risk game and said that he is doing a mistake by not spending more time in the middle. He asserted that he wants to see Rohit as an “anchor and not as a destroyer”.

“Yes, he is playing a high-risk game for quite some time now, which he should not. I have no idea why he is doing that. I think he is making a mistake in playing an overly aggressive game,” Lad told PTI in an interview on Wednesday.

“I feel he should spend more time on the crease and not throw his wicket away. I don’t want him to take chances in the first six overs of the powerplay. He should play his normal and natural game. 

“As his coach, I would like to see him as an anchor and not as a destroyer who plays high-risk games. If he stays on the wicket for some time, he will play long and useful innings. He should try to play 17-18 overs and score around 70-80 runs in every match he plays,” Lad added.

Lad further advised Rohit to approach his innings with “controlled aggression” and to cut down the risky shots. He said:

“He plays too much in the air, maybe because sometimes it is needed in T20 cricket. But I would say he should go with controlled aggression. If he cuts down the risky shots, he will do well in every match.”

Sometimes he gets out cheaply playing rash shots and he has to face criticism for that – Dinesh Lad on Rohit Sharma

Lad further recalled his last conversation with Rohit and said that he had advised the Indian captain to play sensible cricket. Lad also said that Rohit Sharma will have to face criticism after he gets dismissed while playing rash shots.

“The last time I spoke to him was before he went to the World Cup. We did not talk much about the technique as he has played so much cricket for India. 

“I advised him to stay on the crease and play sensibly. I always want him to lead from the front and contribute maximum towards India’s victory. But he is not getting the time as he is throwing his wickets away. Sometimes he gets out cheaply playing rash shots and he has to face criticism for that,” he said.

Lad is also confident that the 35-year-old will bounce back strong. He is also delighted to see Rohit leading India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 and is hopeful of the Men In Blue winning the World Cup under Rohit’s leadership. He elaborated:

“I am sure Rohit will come back very strongly. I feel he must show some patience. He should spend more time on the crease. The wickets in Australia are ideally suited for his kind of game. He is a stroke player and the ball nicely comes into the bat. 

“In T20 cricket, it’s difficult to talk about technique much. He should start enjoying the game more and do well for the country both as a player and as a captain.

“I am very happy and feel proud that my ward Rohit Sharma is leading India in the T20 World Cup. Just like India won the World Cup on his debut World Cup in 2007 I would like to see him lift the World Cup on his debut as captain.”

In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 match between India and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, October 23, Virat Kohli smashed a remarkable 82 runs off 53 balls, including 6 fours and 4 sixes, to help India win the match by 4 wickets.

Lad was highly impressed with Kohli’s knock against Pakistan and labelled his innings as the best T20 innings he has ever seen.

“Virat Kohli played the best T20 innings I have ever seen. The best part was that he was always in control. He never played a false or wrong shot.

“In T20 cricket, there is a lot of improvisation, reverse sweeps, scoops, etc., but Virat did not play any such shot. He played proper cricketing shots. This had to be his best innings given the magnitude and the pressure situation India was in.”

Dinesh Lad further said that Rohit Sharma must try to adapt and play like a match-winner again.

“I feel that Rohit will start playing like a match-winner again. We are about to see the best of Rohit once again, like the 2019 World Cup in England.”

“He has won five IPL titles. He is an involved captain. He has self-belief. He knows how to take the best out of which player and how to utilize the best out of them.

“Our chances of lifting the World Cup have increased as the momentum is with us. Momentum is there in India’s favour after their thrilling victory over Pakistan on Sunday,” he added.

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2022: “I Wasn’t Surprised, I Knew This Would Happen In Australia” – Ravi Shastri On Virat Kohli’s “Greatest T20 Knock”