Saba Karim, the former India wicket-keeper batter has asserted the importance of opener and Test vice-captain Rohit Sharma to the batting unit and rued his absence. The newly appointed Test vice-captain of the Indian team will miss the Test series against South Africa after suffering an injury during a nets session.
Rohit Sharma has been replaced by India A skipper Gujrat’s Priyank Panchal for the series. KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal are expected to open the innings as the two sole experienced openers left in the squad.
Saba Karim: Rohit Sharma’s Absence A Huge Setback For India
Saba Karim noted Rohit Sharma’s contributions on overseas tours in the recent past and feels he was required to negotiate the Proteas pace attack.
While speaking on the Khelneeti podcast on YouTube, Saba Karim said: “Rohit Sharma’s absence is a huge setback for India. He has brought back stability to the top-order. The way he has adapted his game to Test cricket has been brilliant. Especially the way he batted in English conditions, spent so much time on the crease, negotiated the strong bowling attack in favourable conditions.”
Saba Karim added: “South Africa have a strong bowling attack as well, against such an attack, it is important that you have your important batsmen fit and in form. So, his absence is a huge blow. Now, KL Rahul will open with Mayank Agarwal. Agarwal had a good series at home, but in overseas conditions he has to bat in testing conditions.”
Rohit Sharma has cemented his spot as the team’s opener following an excellent start in the new position. He strengthened his case with exemplary performances during India’s overseas tours of Australia and England in the last 12 months.
Rohit Sharma has amassed 906 runs at an impressive average of 47.68 in Tests this year. In T20Is, India’s new limited-overs skipper has smashed 424 runs at an excellent average of 38.54, along with a terrific strike rate of 150.88. Rohit Sharma, who averages 46.88 in his career of 43 Tests, played 11 Tests in 2021 and averaged 47.68 which included 2 tons and 4 fifties.
The 161-run knock in Chennai and the 127 at the Oval were Rohit Sharma’s standout performances, both coming in bowler-friendly conditions.
Saba Karim: Injuries Before Tours Have Happened Earlier And Continue To Happen
The lack of clarity surrounding Rohit Sharma’s injury has sent the cricketing world into a state of confusion. Saba Karim, however, maintained that only the official release by the board needs to be considered at the end of the day.
The former selector stated: “Rohit Sharma is injured, so he will not play the series. It is as simple as that, there is no need to look beyond that. Injuries before tours have happened before and will continue to happen.”
Saba Karim also spoke about India’s decision to have different captains for limited-overs and Test cricket. While relinquishing T20I captaincy after the conclusion of the T20I World Cup 2021, Virat Kohli had expressed his desire to lead India in Tests and ODIs, going ahead, but he was stripped of ODI captaincy as BCCI felt only one limited-overs format skipper was needed.
“Rohit Sharma has already played under the captaincy of Kohli. The team has done well also. It’s good now that the captaincy of the red ball and white ball cricket is split.”
Rohit Sharma is expected to be fit by the end of the 2nd Test. As a result, he can enter the bio-bubble and be eligible in time to lead the side in his first assignment as India’s full-time white-ball captain. India and South Africa will compete in a three-match ODI series following the culmination of the Test series. Virat Kohli has meanwhile informed selectors he would skip the 3 ODIs following the 3 Tests.