BGT: Shastri urges Rohit to adopt his white-ball mentality for batting at number six
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New Delhi, Dec 22 (NationPress) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has advised skipper Rohit Sharma to utilize his successful white-ball strategy when he bats at number six in the forthcoming Boxing Day Test against Australia, which starts in Melbourne on Thursday.
Rohit shifted to number six after KL Rahul performed well as an opener in the 295-run victory in Perth, a match he missed due to the birth of his second child. However, since moving down to the sixth position in the batting order, Rohit has recorded scores of 10, three, and six in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
“I believe he needs to be very clear in his mindset to go out there and take the attack to the opposition and not be concerned with anything else. The last thing you want is for him to be torn between defending and attacking. In his case, it should be attacking. He picks up length quickly, and he should confront the opposition from that position.
“If he can get through the first 10-15 minutes without getting past 15-20 minutes or half an hour, why not play his natural game, take the attack to the opposition, and proceed from there? I believe that is his best approach for not only returning to form but also winning a game for India.”
“That number is crucial. The best No.6s in the world are those with the ability to counter-attack and read situations well. Yes, if many wickets have fallen, you might need to be cautious for a little while.
“However, the intent must be evident sooner rather than later, especially when you possess that kind of ability and have previously opened for India, showcasing all the shots suitable for Australian conditions,” Shastri stated on the ICC Review show.
With the five-match series currently tied at 1-1, Shastri also praised Rahul, who has been India’s top performer on this tour, amassing 235 runs from six innings at an average of 47, and forming a solid opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rahul’s impressive 84 in Brisbane also aided India in avoiding a follow-on.
“I would have suggested he (Rohit) open in the last Test match, but considering how Rahul has batted—he was a joy to watch—I believe he is currently in a purple patch.
“This could be a position he might want to maintain and further enhance his performance because his technique was impeccable. The way he left the ball and allowed it to come onto the bat, some of his cover drives were among the best executed by anyone in world cricket right now.
“Therefore, when there’s such confidence, let it be. I would like to see a shift in Rohit Sharma's tactics, as he can still prove to be extremely dangerous at that number (six),” Shastri concluded.
