Rohit Sharma might have played a gutsy knock of 83 runs in the first innings of the 2nd Test against England but the opener said it was the “most challenging” knock he has played in the longest format of the game away from home.
Rohit Sharma was not able to get to the three-figure mark as he was sent back to the pavilion by England pacer James Anderson in the second session.
Rohit Sharma Rates His 83 As The Most Challenging Innings He Ever Played In Tests
Rohit Sharma averages a staggering 79.52 in 27 innings in home Tests where he has 7 tons. But overseas, he averages a low 29.23 and his highest score came on the 1st Day of the 2nd Test-a knock of 83 off 145 balls before being dismissed by James Anderson.
“I wouldn’t say the best because as long as you are playing. There will be a lot of opportunities that you will be having. But yes certainly challenging, the most challenging innings I have played. I felt very good, I was happy with the way we started off. Unfortunate dismissal but I couldn’t have done anything to that,” said Rohit while replying to a query from ANI.
Rohit Sharma adopted a calm approach and shied away from playing lofted shots. He smashed 11 fours and one six during his knock.
“That’s the challenge of Test cricket, you may have lost of shots in your books but when the conditions are against you, you have to keep talking to yourself and cut down the shots unnecessary shots especially with the new ball,” said Rohit.
“Once you get the feel of the pitch, once you get the conditions then maybe you can try and play some shots but I think it is important to respect the conditions here. As a batting group, we have done reasonably well right from Australia tour till today, I think batters now understand their role,” he added.
Rohit Sharma has been a permanent feature in India’s Test squad since the home season of 2019. He burst onto the Test arena with successive hundreds of 177 and 111* against the West Indies in 2013. But he couldn’t quite cement his place in the Indian Test side, owing to his lack of consistency. He has played 41 Tests so far and was tried at different positions in the batting order.
Rohit Sharma averages a whopping 79.52 in home Tests. He has all of his 7 tons at his home and excelled as an opener averaging 61.25 amassing 1225 runs in 22 innings.
Rohit Sharma And KL Rahul Ensured India Lay A Solid Foundation
KL Rahul’s unbeaten ton and Rohit Sharma’s gutsy 83-knock helped India take the upper hand against England on the opening day of the ongoing second Test here. At stumps, India’s score reads 276/3 with KL Rahul (unbeaten on 127) and Ajinkya Rahane (unbeaten on 1) currently at the crease.
Resuming the final session at 157/2, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul mixed caution with aggression and they kept on moving the scoreboard, piling on the pressure on the hosts.KL Rahul brought up his century in the 78th over of the innings and he along with the skipper kept the hosts at bay.
After winning the toss, England skipper Joe Root made no bones about the fact that he wanted to make use of the overcast conditions to put pressure on India. But Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul ensured India has a solid foundation.
India who batted first after losing the toss was off to one of the best starts in years. In the 1st Test, the duo of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma was close to registering a century partnership(97) but in the 2nd Test, the duo laid the foundation for a fantastic day with a 126 run partnership.