Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag will be looking forward to Trent Boult vs Rohit Sharma contest in the upcoming World Test Championship final. Rohit has been troubled by the left-arm seamers in the past and it will be interesting to note how he will negate the swing which will be on offer in the early stages of the innings.
Rohit hasn’t consistently delivered the goods in the overseas conditions as a Test batsman. However, the right-hander ended the 2019 World Cup, which was played in England, as the highest run-getter with 648 runs. But there is no doubt that there is a lot of difference between white ball and red-ball games.
Rohit will need to be patient in his approach as New Zealand have got a potent bowling battery. On the other hand, Trent Boult was rested for the first Test match against England and he scalped four wickets in the first innings of the ongoing second Test match between the two teams.
“No doubt Trent Boult-Tim Southee combination will pose a lot of challenge for Indians. They can move the ball both ways and are brilliant while bowling in partnerships also,” Sehwag told PTI during an interview. “Boult vs Rohit Sharma will be a contest that I would be looking forward to. If Rohit gets set and sees off Boult’s opening spell, it will be a treat to watch,” former opener added.
“Rohit is a fantastic batsman and he has played Test cricket in England earlier also (2014) so I think he can manage well as we have seen in recent times when he has opened the batting. I have no doubt that he will score runs in England this time. “Obviously, as it is for any opener, he would have to be careful for the first 10 overs and see off that new ball to understand the conditions first. I am sure he will get a chance to show his range of strokes,” added Sehwag.
On the other hand, Sehwag feels India’s wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant should play his natural game and take one ball at a time. Pant has been in prolific form in the recent past and he can change the complexion of the game with his blistering batting.
“The focus for Rishabh should be one one ball at a time. If the ball is there to be hit, he should hit it. I don’t think he needs to change approach as he has got success with the same approach and Test matches are different ball game. “Of late, he has understood his role in the team and he is a very critical player for India in Test matches coming in at No 6. If he gets set and starts scoring runs, he can change the game in a session and we have all seen that.”
The WTC final will take place at Ageas Bowl, Southampton from June 18.
