Sunil Gavaskar Opens Up How Rohit Sharma Can Achieve Success As Test Opener

Sep 21, 2019 at 3:33 PM

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Sunil Gavaskar Opens Up How Rohit Sharma Can Achieve Success As Test Opener

The legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes that Rohit Sharma will be successful as a Test opener. However, the legend has pointed out one main thing to develop that can bring the Test success for Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma is a successful opener in limited-overs cricket. Since he took the role of the opening batsman in international limited-overs cricket, Rohit has shown highly consistent performances as a batsman. At present, the right-handed batsman is the no.2-ranked ODI batsman and no.9-ranked T20I batsman.

Read More: India vs South Africa 3rd T20I: Team India’s Predicted Playing XI

However, Rohit hasn’t shown this kind of consistency in Test cricket although he hasn’t played as a Test opener yet. The national selectors now want to watch Rohit Sharma as a Test opener in the forthcoming home Test series against South Africa.

Some former cricketers are supporting this initiative. Sunil Gavaskar is also one of them.

Rohit Sharma, Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Gavaskar recently told India Today, “Look we know there is a difference between red and white ball. The white ball can stop swinging in five overs. With the kind of stitches on the red leather, you may find it swinging even after the 35 to 40 over mark.

“So facing up against swing is a different matter and he does struggle a bit against the incoming ball. Having said that, if his shot selection is good, he will be able to score in Test cricket too.”

Rohit Sharma doesn’t have the water tight defence like Virender Sehwag – Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian successful aggressive opener Virender Sehwag started his international career as a middle-order batsman. But he later became a regular opener in every cricket format and performed successfully.

Sunil Gavaskar believes that Rohit Sharma has more shots than Virender Sehwag, but Sehwag had tighter defence than Rohit. Gavaskar added that the strong defence against the good balls could bring the Test cricket success for Rohit.

Rohit Sharma, Sunil Gavaskar
Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: Google)

The legendary opener added, “When we talk about Rohit Sharma, he doesn’t have the water tight defence like Virender Sehwag. But he perhaps has more shots than Sehwag. Sehwag would not hit the ball so much on the on side. Rohit can use the pull and hook very well. So Rohit does have more attacking shots. If he can tighten up his defence against the good balls, he can also be successful like Sehwag in Test cricket.”

A lot of people have this wrong notion that Virender Sehwag did not have a defence

Sunil Gavaskar claimed that many had wrong belief on Sehwag’s defence. According to the legend, Sehwag had one of the strongest defensive batting techniques.

Read More : Rishabh Pant Is An X-Factor, Just Be Patient With Him, Says Former India Skipper Sourav Ganguly

Virender Sehwag (Image Credit: Google)

Gavaskar said, “A lot of people have this wrong notion that Virender Sehwag did not have a defence. I have seen very few batsmen who would have the bat coming down as straight as it did with Sehwag while he was defending.

“The bat and pad would be so close, like one sees with newly-married couples. There would not be a gap of even an inch from which the ball can go through. He had a terrific defence. It’s another matter that he would summon the defensive shot only if he was bored attacking.”

In Test cricket, Rohit Sharma has mostly batted as a middle-order batsman. But Gavaskar believes that consistent Hanuma Vihari has put Rohit’s Test middle-order batting place in danger. However, Gavaskar is hopeful about the success of Rohit as a Test opener in the upcoming home series.

The hosts India and visitors South Africa will play the three-match Test series between 2nd October and 23rd October.

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