Intriguing Perspective from Former Indian Star: “Rohit Sharma Experienced a Dip in Form Last Year Too” ahead of WTC Final.
Photo During Practice
As the Indian cricket team prepares for the World Test Championship final against Australia, there are doubts surrounding the performance of captain Rohit Sharma. The renowned batsman had a lackluster season for the Mumbai Indians in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL), leading many to question his ability to deliver in the highly anticipated title showdown against Australia. Nevertheless, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar dismisses any concerns about Rohit’s IPL form, emphasizing that it should not be a cause for worry as India gears up for the upcoming Test assignment.
Despite the Mumbai Indians‘ qualification for the IPL playoffs, Rohit struggled to make significant contributions with the bat. Throughout 16 matches, the Hitman managed to score only 332 runs, averaging 20.75 with a strike-rate of 132.80. Nevertheless, Manjrekar remains unfazed by these numbers and believes they hold no significance in the context of India’s preparation for the Test match.
Let’s set aside his IPL form because, as we’ve seen in the past, Rohit Sharma has had his moments of struggle in the tournament as well. However, if we look at his performance in the first Test match against Australia, we witnessed some incredible batting from him. Considering the stage of his career, Test cricket appears to be the most thrilling format for Rohit Sharma, just as it has always been for Virat Kohli,” expressed Manjrekar during his appearance on Star Sports.
Delving into the technical aspects of Rohit’s batting, Manjrekar highlighted that his skills in the longest format of the game are nearly flawless.
“His batting in Test cricket has reached an almost faultless level at the moment. There is only one area where we have noticed a slight vulnerability – he occasionally gets dismissed while attempting the pull shot. The opposition has cleverly employed a short ball strategy with a fielder placed strategically for that shot. It becomes an instinctive response on Rohit’s part.
In ODI cricket, Rohit Sharma’s pull shot is a fascinating aspect of his batting technique. Unlike conventional players, he employs a unique approach by keeping his back lift low, allowing him to play the ball down. He smoothly picks up the ball and swiftly moves the bat behind his back during the follow-through, generating tremendous power,” Manjrekar elaborated.
The eagerly anticipated World Test Championship final is scheduled to take place at the Oval, commencing on June 7th.
