Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad highlighted that the India opener needs to focus harder to get used to the seaming conditions in England. India will play 6 Tests, including the World Test Championship final against the Kiwis in the UK in the forthcoming months.
Rohit Sharma is certainly one of the modern-day greats when it comes to limited-overs cricket. Late in his career, the Mumbai batsman is trying to establish himself as a Test opener. At 34, Rohit Sharma will face a new challenge and probably one of the toughest in his career as he gears up to open the innings for the first time in Test cricket in English conditions.
Rohit Sharma Has To Focus Harder In England: Childhood Coach Dinesh Lad
Rohit Sharma loves playing in England, albeit on batsman-friendly conditions in white-ball cricket. The India opener has scored 1335 runs, including 7 hundred, at an average of 66.75. Not many can forget the record-breaking 5 hundred he had hit in the 2019 World Cup in the Old Blighty.
However, Rohit Sharma has played only one Test in England and that came in 2014 when he batted at No. 6. Since his elevation as a Test opener in 2019, he has been quite impressive but he will be gearing up for the English test. He has been picked in the 20-man squad for the England tour, wherein India will play 6 Tests, including the World Test Championship final.
Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad is confident that the India opener will be able to get used to the Red Dukes ball and the seaming conditions in England but has urged his ward to focus more and be patient.
He heaped praise on Rohit Sharma for standing out from the rest in difficult conditions at home against England. Rohit Sharma had aggregated 345 runs averaging 57.5 in the England series. His sublime 161-run knock had helped the hosts winning the 2nd Test at Chennai and draw level in the series.
“He just has to focus harder there, play every ball to its merit because there will be significant movement,” Lad told Sportskeeda.
“But talking about the recent home series against England on turning tracks, Rohit played proper cricketing shots while others seemed to struggle. So I am sure he will adjust his game in England as well because it’s all about adjusting to different conditions at the highest level.
“Yes, he might some face problems because the ball swings in England more than in any other country and you have to be extremely focused in order to handle that movement. But if he faces the quality bowlers that India have during net sessions or intra-squad matches, then it might help him to acclimatise to the conditions better,” he added.
Dinesh Lad highlighted that Test opener Rohit Sharma had thrown away good starts without being able to convert them in Australia earlier this year and warned the India opener to not repeat throwing away his wicket, saying it’s important to carry on and get a big score for the team in English conditions.
Rohit Sharma Can’t Afford To Throw His Wicket Away This Time Around In England: Dinesh Lad
Rohit Sharma gave good starts for India after joining the squad for the last 2 Tests. He hit 26, 52, 44, and 7 but threw his wicket away after looking good to go big. India won the series 2-1 after coming back from behind to beat Australia at the Gabba.
“Even in Australia earlier this year, the way he batted caught everyone’s eye and he made shot-making look so easy while playing the fast bowlers. He never seemed like getting out, but again, there were a few innings where he threw his wicket away. He can’t afford to do that this time around,” Lad said.
India is expected to depart for the UK in the first week of June. The players are currently in quarantine in Mumbai. India plays the WTC Final against New Zealand from June 18. The 5-Test series against England gets underway from August 4.