Former India cricketer and left handed opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has backed Rohit Sharma to do well as an opener in Test matches against South Africa starting on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam.
Notably, the Mumbai batsman has been drafted into the Test squad as an opener since KL Rahul was dropped owing to poor form despite many opportunities. Despite his selection in the test squad as an opener, many eyebrows were raised as Rohit failed to leave any kind of impact whatsoever in a practice match ahead of the Test series and departed for a two ball duck.
However, Gambhir has now stated that he is not too concerned about Rohit’s solitary failure in a practice game. Gambhir is in fact sure of Rohit doing well in the Test matches as an opener.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for Rohit Sharma to announce himself as a Test opening batsman. I am not looking too deep into his two-ball duck in the practice game,” the ICC Cricket World Cup winning batsman wrote in a column for Times of India.
“Besides, it will be disastrous to shuffle around Rohit if he doesn’t succeed in this series. We should remember that he is a makeshift opening batsman. His success as an opening batsman in white-ball cricket can’t guarantee equally good returns in Test matches,” he added.
“Trust me, Rohit will have nerves but the Indian team’s dressing room will have to ensure that these nerves don’t get converted into self-doubt. I can tell you from experience that it is a terrible space to be in,” Gambhir explained.
Earlier Sharma had received the backing of several players and commentators including his captain Virat Kohli.
“If he (Rohit) comes into his own then the whole batting order looks a completely different batting order anywhere in the world,” Kohli had said.
All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma when he sets out to open the batting for India in Test matches.