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Ravi Shastri observed that Rohit looked ‘too subdued’ against the Aussies in the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test and should return to open the innings so that he can be in his aggressive and expressive self.
Former India Head Coach, Ravi Shastri (Getty Images)
Rohit Sharma’s reunion with his team in Australia wasn’t so happening. He demoted himself in the batting order for the day-night Test, keeping the pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul intact. However, a change in position didn’t yield desired results. While the openers were flop in both innings, Rohit could only score 3 & 6 in Adelaide. Moreover, India suffered a humiliating 10-wicket loss and slipped to the third position on the World Test Championship [WTC] points table.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri observed that Rohit looked ‘too subdued’ against the Aussies in the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test and should return to open the innings so that he can be in his aggressive and expressive self.
“That’s the reason I want him at the top. That’s where he can be aggressive and expressive. Just thought he was a little too subdued, just seeing his body language. The fact that he didn’t make runs, I don’t think there was enough on the field there,” Shastri said on Star Sports.
“I just wanted to see him more involved, and a little more animated. You still have to believe that you can bounce back in this series. You have seen with these two teams, that the counter-punch is almost immediate. It’s happened over the last 10 years. You lose one, you win the next, but you have to have the belief,” Ravi Shastri told the broadcasters,” he added.
Rahul’s failure to capitalise on the opportunity has prompted former India captain Gavaskar to call for Rohit’s return to his opening slot.
“He should return to his regular spot. We should remember why Rahul had opened. He did that because Rohit Sharma was not available for the first Test,” Gavaskar said on ‘Sports Tak’.
“I can understand why they kept him as an opener in the second Test, he had a 200-plus partnership with Jaiswal. But now that he couldn’t score this Test, I feel Rahul should go back to No. 5 or No.6 and Rohit Sharma should open. If Rohit scores quickly in the beginning, then he can score a big century also later,” he added.
