The Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has backed the limited-overs vice-captain, Rohit Sharma. Rahane remarks that he will be glad if Rohit is given chance to play in Test cricket.
KL Rahul had given a disappointing performance as Test Opener in the West Indies tour. So, now the likes of Rohit to play as a Test opener are increasing. Ajinkya Rahane has also shown his support to Rohit Sharma. Rohit is specialist as an opener in limited-overs format cricket. He knows his duty well as the opening batsman so it is accepted him to be the Test opener.
“I said in the West Indies also, it is hard to see a player like Rohit sitting out. He worked so hard and if he gets an opportunity, I will be very happy and I sure, he will do well. We all know the quality he has — special talent.
“Test cricket is all about mindset and ODI cricket, you can just go out there and back yourself. In Test cricket, sometimes if two bowlers are bowling good spells, you need to respect that and come out strong and play your game after that. If Rohit plays, I will be happy,” he further said during a media interaction organised by his sponsors Indian Oil, in Mumbai on Thursday.
Rohit Sharma has played 27 Tests
The batsman made the debut in Test cricket in 2013 and till now he has just played 27 Tests and scored 1585 runs. He last played the Test match against Australia in December 2018. He played as a middle-order batsman and scored 63* runs but missed the next Test match because of injury and also to meet his newborn daughter.
Rohit was selected in the Test squad against West Indies where India clean swiped the host. The player was not in the playing XI as Hanuma Vihari was given the chance. This led Rohit to lose his place in the Test match.