Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar has shed light on skipper Rohit Sharma’s recent struggle with the bat in the lead-up to the second Test in Adelaide on December 3. Manjrekar pointed out that Rohit, known for his backfoot play and ability to play the ball late, was not executing his strengths during the Test series against New Zealand. Despite scoring only 91 runs in three home Tests against New Zealand and a total of 133 runs in five Tests, Rohit has been working on improving his front foot technique in the nets ahead of the pink-ball Test.
Manjrekar noted, “The one thing that I saw during the New Zealand series was that he, like Virat Kohli, was only looking to get out on the front foot but not taking a big step. And when it comes to places like Australia and South Africa, that can lead to trouble.” He emphasized the importance of playing close to the ball and making adjustments to his front foot stride to avoid getting into difficulties.
With KL Rahul performing well in the Perth Test, there has been ongoing debate about Rohit’s batting slot. Manjrekar also cautioned Rohit about the uneven bounce in Australian pitches and advised him to be cautious while playing the pull shot. He mentioned, “Watch out for that pull shot that has got him in trouble. It’s an instinctive shot that he plays short of a length, and it may bounce more than he is accustomed to playing in the subcontinent.”
Despite the challenges, Rohit has a good track record in Australia, with 2,033 runs across formats and a total of 3,571 runs against Australia, including nine centuries. Former Australian batter Michael Hussey expressed confidence in Rohit’s abilities, stating that it would be unwise to underestimate champion players like Rohit and Virat Kohli. Hussey believes that both players have the potential to bounce back and perform well in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, even though Australia is considered the favorites.
After Kohli’s return to form with a century in the Perth Test, India secured a 295-run victory. Rohit will be eager to follow suit and make a significant contribution in the upcoming matches. With his experience and skill, Rohit has the potential to turn the tables and play a crucial role in India’s success against Australia.
