Rohit is set to play the role of opener in red-ball cricket for the very first time in his career.
Ahead of the Test series opener against South Africa, India skipper Virat Kohli said that Rohit Sharma’s elevation as opener in red-ball cricket could make the No. 1 team’s batting line-up "more lethal" and also added that his white-ball deputy will be given enough "space" to find his game in the longest format.
While Rohit is widely deemed as modern-day ODI great, he is yet to find his feet in Tests, averaging 39.62 from 27 games.
"If he does that (succeeds in the opening role), then our batting order at the top becomes more lethal. It is difficult to have a player like that to not start every time," Kohli told reporters on the eve of the first Test in Visakhapatnam.
"If he comes into his own then the whole batting order looks a completely different batting order anywhere in the world," he added.
Asked if the management is thinking of giving Rohit at least five to six Tests, the Indian captain remarked: "We are not looking to rush him. There is a different pattern you follow in India and different abroad. Opening is a spot where you have to give a player space to understand his own game. He will be given space to find his game and come into his own."
Virat said it would be great for the team if Rohit can play the role of legendary Virender Sehwag at the top while he insisted that the team is not looking for any specific kind of approach from the Mumbaikar.
"In Test cricket I started at (number) six then came up to four. It was more of a mental thing. If you can convince yourself you can do it. Test cricket is about finding your game in different conditions.
"We are not looking at a certain kind of display of batting from Rohit. It is about him finding his game at the top. Yes, his strength is to take the game forward. Like what Viru bhai used to do for the team for a long period.
"So, it is not as if someone would have told Viru bhai to attack and get a hundred before lunch. His natural instinct took over and he could demolish attacks once he felt comfortable," he explained.
Several cricket experts have raised doubts over Rohit’s technique as an opener in red-ball cricket, but Kohli reckons the stylish batsman is experienced enough to deliver the goods for the team.
"He definitely has the ability. If the wicket is challenging and then obviously you won't see him smashing the ball, he knows what to do."
The skipper said the idea of promoting Rohit as an opener was considered long ago but could only be implemented in the current scenario after KL Rahul’s snub.
"For Rohit as well, clarity of role knowing that you have to play in a certain way, is very crucial for a player and for us the communication happened long ago.
"But we could not see a situation but now there is a situation and it is an ideal time to go ahead with it because we have spoken about it. ODIs was the same with him.
"He was batting in the middle order and then suddenly opening conversations happened and within 6-8 months he was opening and we all know what happened after that. If he can do what he did in ODIs, it will be great for Indian cricket."
Having whitewashed West Indies 2-0 last month, Team will look to strengthen their standing in the World Test Championship points table by beating the Proteas at home. And for this, the numero uno Test side needs Rohit to fire at the top.
"We have given people opportunities in the past. Mayank (Agarwal) came into the system, KL had been there for a while, (Murali) Vijay was there for a while. So there will always be room for people to come in because of their performances.
"But we feel because we have a Test championship to look forward to and Rohit's been in the Test set up for a long time it's about providing him the opportunity and find that template that he wants to in Test cricket," he said.
(With PTI inputs)