Former Indian selector Dilip Vengsarkar believes that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma will play a vital role as captain and as an opener against Australia in the mouth-watering World Test Championship final, starting on June 7, at Kennington Oval.
The Indian captain was not at his usual best for Mumbai Indians in the cash-rich league and has struggled to score runs in the IPL 2023 but will look to put his poor form behind to start afresh in WTC Final against Australia as he will be desperate to end the team India’s long wait for an ICC trophy as India won the last ICC trophy in 2013.
Speaking in Hindustan Times, the former Indian Cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar said that Rohit Sharma will have a crucial role to play in the finals against Australia in the WTC final and feels that the Indian skipper will be a key player for India against the high-quality Baggy Green’s attack.
“Rohit’s role will be very crucial both as a captain and also as an opener. He is a big match player and the occasion can’t get any bigger than this. I hope he brings his A-game to the table,” Dilip Vengsarkar said.
Vengsarkar reckons that switching from test cricket to T20 cricket will be the biggest challenge for the Indian team players as they will return to playing red-ball cricket after playing two months long IPL cricket and warned that the team would not get a second chance, as it will be important for the Indian team to be in the top their game.
“More than the form I think the fact that he will be straightaway coming to the Test match from T20s might be a bit of an issue. I wish they had a few practice games before the WTC final. When you go into a Test match as big as this and remember, there are no second chances, unlike a series, you must be prepared well”.
Rohit Sharma has done phenomenally well for the Indian team as he scored 368 runs in four Test matches at an average of 52.27 during the 2021 England series and will look to do well in the high stakes final against Australia in the World Test Championship final.
I Hope Rahane Gets The Nod Ahead Of Suryakumar Yadav – Dilip Vengsarkar
Dilip Vengsarkar hopes Ajinkya Rahane is allowed to play 11 over Suryakumar Yadav, as the Indian veteran has experience playing the England conditions and believes that his batting style applies very well to the conditions.
“I hope Rahane gets the nod ahead of Suryakumar Yadav because he is an experienced player. He has played good knocks in English conditions in the past. His technique is such that he can adapt to the English conditions quickly,” Dilip Vengsarkar added.
Ajinkya Rahane made a stunning comeback into the team following his impressive performance for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023. He has scored 4,931 runs in 82 Tests at an average of 38.52 with the help of 25 fifties and 12 centuries and the Indian veteran is expected to vital role in the middle order alongside Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.