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'He needs to contribute personally as well': Former national selector shoots warning to Rohit ahead of 2nd Test
Rohit Sharma scored 44, 1 and 5 in the recent T20I assignment against Sri Lanka and perished for 29 in the Test series opener at Mohali.
Led by new Test skipper Rohit Sharma, India blanked Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs inside three days in the opening match against Mohali. The hosts are favourites to continue their unbeaten streak, having never lost to Sri Lanka at home. As the action shifts to Bengaluru for the pink-ball game, beginning Saturday, the focus remains on Virat Kohli, who has been chasing an elusive international hundred for 28 months now.
The 33-year-old flamboyant batter last reached the three-figure mark against Bangladesh in November 2019 and he will look to replicate the feat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue that's very close to the former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper. Apart from Kohli, Rohit will also look to get among the runs, having scored just one half-century in his last 10 international innings.
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Former national selector Saba Karim believes Rohit should look to elevate his game with the bat to add "value" to the team. Rohit scored 44, 1 and 5 in the T20I assignment against Sri Lanka and perished for 29 in the Test series opener at Mohali.
“It will be very important for Rohit Sharma to perform with the bat. He has led very well but you become a good or a great captain with the support of the team. He needs to contribute personally as well and keep adding value to the team. So yes, the next Test will be a challenge for him," Karim said on the Khelneeti podcast.
The former India wicketkeeper also weighed in on Mayank Agarwal's position at the top, saying the batter has scored "plenty of runs" in Indian conditions. He predicted India will go with the same opening combination in Bengaluru.
“Expect India to go in with the same opening combination. Why would you want to change things after just one Test match? Mayank has scored plenty of runs in Indian conditions. He wasn’t struggling in the previous Test. But yes, he will need to convert his starts into big scores.”
India will most probably not tinker with their batting combination but the team could have a rejigged bowling unit after the return of Axar Patel. In his last pink-ball game against England, Axar wreaked havoc in Ahmedabad and he could replace Jayant Yadav in the Playing XI. Pacer Mohammed Siraj can also get the nod if there is ample grass on the surface.
