Cheteshwar Pujara wants Rohit Sharma to make technical changes, backs captain to continue batting at number 6

India’s veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara has urged Rohit Sharma to tighten his screws while facing the straight ball in the rest of the Test series against Australia. Pujara noted that Rohit has been getting either bowled or LBW and wants the right-hander to take a longer front-foot stride.

After missing the opening Test match at Perth due to personal reasons, Rohit returned with scores of 3 and 6 in the second Test while batting at number six. Rohit also managed only 91 runs in three Test matches against New Zealand and scored only 42 runs in two Test matches against Bangladesh.

Rohit has managed a solitary fifty in the last six Test matches and he hasn’t been at his best.

“He has not scored a lot of runs against New Zealand and he did not start well in Australia, so there is a bit of pressure on him to perform. But someone like him who knows his game will just have to be more positive, and work a bit more on his footwork. If he has a slightly bigger stride, it will help him,” Cheteshwar Pujara said in a video by ESPNcricinfo in the build-up to the Brisbane Test match.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul returned with scores of 26 and 77 in the first Test and added 201 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening alliance in the second innings. Ergo, Rohit decided to demote himself in the middle order and Pujara feels the captain should continue batting at number six.

“The stump line has been troubling him a lot. He has been getting out bowled and LBW, which is a bit of concern for him. That’s the line he will have to work on in the nets, because in the balls outside off stump, he is looking more comfortable. I think he should continue to bat at No.6. We are looking at India’s future, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. They batted really well in the 1st Test match, Shubman also is likely to bat at No.3. We should think about the long term and that’s why I think that Rohit should continue to bat at No.6,” he further added.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.