Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg reckons Rohit Sharma deserves more accolades at the Test level in overseas conditions.
Hogg had earlier raised questions on Rohit’s technique and he was not sure if the Indian veteran batsman will be successful in the tough English conditions.
However, Rohit has answered his critics in style as he has shown all the patience to be successful in the tough foreign conditions. The experienced batsman is playing as an opener for the first time in England conditions but he has shown solid defense and he has backed his game.
Earlier it was noticed that Rohit was a bit impatient while playing in the overseas conditions and thus a lot of cricket experts questioned his success in the difficult conditions. However, Rohit has been getting off to consistent starts and he has India’s best batsman along with KL Rahul on the ongoing tour of England.
The right-hander has thus far amassed 230 runs in three Test matches against England at an average of 46 and has scored his runs at an uncharacteristic strike rate of 39.45. Rohit has shown confidence in his defensive skills and he has also left the ball with aplomb.
“The way Rohit Sharma has adjusted playing late is unbelievable. I have been one of those commentators who has been criticizing his form in Test cricket away from India.
“Even though he hasn’t scored a hundred in the series so far, he has shown that he is a class act and deserves more accolades at the Test level when he is away from India. I just hope he finishes off the series with a century because he deserves it the way he has adjusted,” explained Hogg on his YouTube channel.
On the other hand, India’s wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been inconsistent on the current tour of England. Pant has managed scores of 25, 37, 22, 2 and 1 in the series and Hogg added that the left-hander is not sure of the way he wants to bat when the team is under the pump.
“I am a little worried about Rishabh Pant at the moment because when India were under pressure, there was a bit of confusion in the way he wanted to go about his innings.
“I think the leadership group should let him play his natural game because he hasn’t got enough experience behind him in that defensive game yet in England,” Brad Hogg concluded.
The series is levelled 1-1 and the fourth Test match will take place at the Oval from Thursday.
