Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman heaped praise on opening batsman Rohit Sharma for continuing his good form in the ongoing Test series against England.
Rohit scored an unbeaten 57 runs on the opening day of the third Test match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
The Indian bowlers did a fine job in skittling out the visitors for a paltry score of 112 runs after Joe Root won the toss and decided to bat first. Axar Patel was the pick of the Indian bowlers as scalped a six-for whereas Ravichandran Ashwin bagged three wickets.
Thus, it was crucial for India to get off to a good start and Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were able to provide the same. Rohit started his innings in his typical style as he took his time in the initial stage. The right-hander scored 10 runs from the first 30 balls and then changed gears after getting his eye in.
Rohit completed his 12th Test fifty in 63 balls and continued from where he had left in Chennai. The right-hander had scored a fine knock of 161 runs in the first innings of the second Test and thus had laid the foundation of the par score of 329 runs.
Rohit once again had the plan of playing out the opening spell of James Anderson and Stuart Broad with the new pink ball. Subsequently, the talisman was quick to latch on to any loose balls and also pulled with authority whenever Jofra Archer banged the ball in short.
“The way he shows confidence on his formula in one-day cricket, I feel in the same way he scored a big hundred in the second Test in Chennai in tough conditions and here also he came with a game plan and showed confidence in that,” said VVS Laxman while talking to Star Sports.
“He was playing the drive when the ball was pitched full but he respected and played defensively against good-length deliveries. We know he plays an amazing pull shot and back-foot punch against short-pitched deliveries. So, if you show confidence in your game plan, you will continue to perform consistently. It shows he values his wicket and the discipline that is expected from an experienced player was seen,” added Laxman.
Rohit was able to make the most of his experience and did a fine job on the opening day. The flamboyant will look to bat big and he mostly gets a big score if he gets settled.
India is in a dominating position and they will look to build on their lead as they only trail by 13 runs.
