If Rohit Sharma doesn’t become a successful Test Opener, consider my coaching a failure.
Rohit Sharma has been a successful name in the field of cricket over the years and the world knows how brutal he can be towards the bowlers on a fine day of cricket. His records are nothing short of phenomenal and individually share a story of its kind. The cricketer has his name on beyond sensational stuff on the cricketing field.
Sharma has been a successful batter in the white-ball format and is often hailed as the destructive batsman when he stays long at the crease. In fact, he, more often than not, secures a win for his team whenever he stays for long in the 22 yards. The extent of his prowess in limited-overs cricket can be predicted with his brilliant records. He has three double hundreds in One Dayers, no one has more than one in the format. Moreover, the cricketer has four hundreds in the T20Is, no one has more than three.
Although Rohit Sharma’s limited over career was riding well with his prowesses, the longest format game was due to ride. Sharma has played most of his test cricket as a middle-order batsman and the story has been the same. He was not able to seal a secure spot for him and timely in and out of the squad made his test career even more testing.
However, the turn came when Virat Kohli and the Indian management decided to let Rohit Sharma open the test match innings. It was that time when he turned his fortunes and wrote his fate in the test format once again right from the beginning.
Hailed as the Hitman, Rohit for the first time opened the test innings in the 2019 home test series against South Africa. The cricketing world witnessed a new chapter in Rohit’s career. The chapter began with a massive burst to those who thought Rohit can’t be a successful test batsman. He amassed three hundreds in the three test matches against South Africa and was the leading run-scorer.
Although the dashing cricketer managed to score big runs in the test series, it was the home test series. The showdown of the overseas test match was due. He was about to make his overseas test debut as an opener, however, a cranky hamstring injury ruled him out of the test series asking him to wait a little more.
Now Rohit got the opportunity to open against Australia in Australia’s backyard. His first outing was definitely not good as an individual, when we talk about the test standards, however, it was good enough to give the Indian team a solid opening stand. Rohit amassed 26 runs in the first innings and stitched a partnership of 70 runs for 1st wicket. He scored 52 in the fourth innings in the same test match to give a befitting reply to the critics.
Sharma’s stellar performance in the test remained consistent ever since he made his test debut as an opener. He has been brilliant in giving India a good start. In fact, Rohit is the highest-ranked Test opener at present in ICC test batsman ranking, having placed at the sixth spot.
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If Rohit Sharma doesn’t become a successful Test Opener, consider my coaching a failure.
Rohit Sharma’s test career rise:
However, there has been a lot of work at the backend which has turned Rohit Sharma’s test career from a talked flop to a hit. In a book by Boria Majumdar and Kushan Sarkar named Mission Domination – An Unfinished Quest, it is extensively revealed how the present head coach of team India, Ravi Shastri, took a challenge to groom Sharma to be a fantastic test batsman.
Shastri, ahead of India’s home season in 2019, challenged himself and stated if Rohit Sharma doesn’t become a successful test batsman during his coaching tenure with team India, he will consider himself as a massive failure.
The challenge seems to be completed with Shastri having a good time with Rohit and the cricketer enjoying his time in test cricket in both overseas and in at home conditions. The sound of the strokes played by the veteran opener is heard by the whole cricketing fraternity and the appreciation seems to be never-ending now, just like his illustrious white-ball career.
At present, Rohit is with the Indian outfit in England for the test series. In the two test matches played till now, Rohit has amassed 152 runs including a blistering knock of 83 at the home of cricket, Lords. India has been impressive in the test series and so has been Rohit. The visitors are in a lead of 1-0 after two matches. The third test match begins on 25th August at Headingley Leeds.
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