India’s opening batsman Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad feels his ward could struggle in the English conditions as the ball swings there.
Rohit has been able to grab his opportunity as a Test opener in the home conditions but he hasn’t played a lot of Test matches in the alienate conditions.
Rohit had opened the innings in Australia in a couple of Test matches and had done a decent job. However, playing in England is one of the most challenging tests for any team’s opener. Lad feels Rohit will need to focus harder and if he can play out the early phase, he will be able to get a big score.
Meanwhile, Rohit had shown his class in the 2019 World Cup in England as he had ended as the tournament’s highest run-getter with 648 runs, with the help of five centuries at an average of 81 and a strike rate of 98. Thus, Rohit has the skills to deliver the goods in the tough English conditions and he will be determined to deliver as a senior opener of the team.
“Rohit just has to focus harder there, play every ball to its merit because there will be significant movement. But talking about the recent home series against England on turning tracks, Rohit played proper cricketing shots while others seemed to struggle. So I am sure he will adjust his game in England as well because it’s all about adjusting to different conditions at the highest level.
“Yes, he might face some problems because the ball swings in England more than in any other country and you have to be extremely focused in order to handle that movement. But if he faces the quality bowlers that India have during net sessions or intra-squad matches, then it might help him to acclimatise to the conditions better,” Dinesh Lad said in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda.
Rohit Sharma scored 345 runs in the four Test matches against England in February-March, including a fine knock of 161 runs. Thus, the talisman will look to continue his good form against the English bowlers. Rohit has done a fine job in the Indian conditions and he will look to prove his mettle in the tough foreign conditions.
Furthermore, Rohit was in decent form in IPL 2021 as he scored 250 runs in seven matches at an average of 35.71.
