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The likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja heaped huge praise on the Indian batter, lauding his style of playing the game and his trademark pull shot.
Aussies pick Rohit Sharma in World XI
Australia’s Test team members have picked a World XI and have picked Indian captain Rohit Sharma as the opening batter. The likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja heaped huge praise on the Indian batter, lauding his style of playing the game and his trademark pull shot.
“Rohit at number 2. A bit of Ying and Yang, being able to put the pressure onto the opposition, take the game on,” said Labuschagne in a video shared by Fox Sports on YouTube.
“He is so dangerous, takes the game on with the new ball. He plays his shots but also has solid defence when the situation demands it. He puts the bowler under a lot of pressure,” said former Australia captain Steve Smith.
“His presence at the crease will jump on anything short. Obviously, he can as the power to hit some very big sixes,” said Lyon highlighting Rohit’s magnificent stroke play.
Australia opener Usman Khawaja said Rohit fits in the World XI because he has been consistently scoring runs.
“I think he just picks himself,” said Khawaja in the video. “He just scores runs. Consistency is the key and he’s consistent,” he concluded.
Rohit Faces Backlash After Series Loss to New Zealand
Rohit Sharma has been facing flak from fans after India’s first Test series defeat since 2012. On Saturday, New Zealand beat India by 113 runs in Pune to register their first-ever Test win on Indian soil. The defeat not only ended India’s unbeaten streak of 18 series at home but also put India’s WTC final qualification at stake.
Following the match, Rohit stated that a single series loss doesn’t define his team’s quality, assuring that India would deliver a strong performance in the upcoming third Test. Addressing the post-match press conference in Pune, the Indian captain said the team can be allowed one series loss in 12 years.
“Humko 12 saal main ek baar to allowed hai yaar (We are allowed one such performance in 12 years). If we were collapsing like this regularly then we would not have been winning at home. We have a lot of expectations. We are expected to win every game at our home, and it is because of our performances,” said Rohit Sharma.
