Rohit Sharma is struggling for big runs in the ongoing Test series against England.
The right-handed opener registered scores of 24, 39, 14 and 13 in the four innings of the first two Tests in Hyderabad and Vizag.
With star batter Virat Kohli ruled out of the entire series due to ‘personal reasons’, India badly need big runs from Rohit to beat England. However, the signs are not encouraging ahead of the third Test in Rajkot, starting on Thursday (February 15).
According to a report published in The Indian Express, Rohit had a tough time during practice in the lead-up to the third Test.
The report claimed that Rohit found it difficult to handle a net bowler during the practice session in Rajkot and he was dismissed twice on successive deliveries. The first one was a sharp in-swinger that knocked over his middle stump while the Indian captain ended up nicking the second delivery, which was an out-swinger.
Barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul and somewhat Shubman Gill, the Indian batters have not looked convincing in the series till now.
The situation will get tougher for the hosts in Rajkot as they are likely to go with an inexperienced batting line-up in the absence of injured Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who has been dropped from the side due to an extended lean patch.
it is likely that both Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar will be added to the third Test playing XI. Some reports also suggest that Dhruv Jurel can replace KS Bharat as the wicketkeeper-batter.
The trio of Sarfaraz, Patidar and Jurel have a total experience of just one Test. While Patidar made his debut in the second Test against England, Sarfaraz and Jurel are yet to receive their Test caps.
After the first two Tests, the five-match series is evenly poised at 1-1. While the Three Lions won the series opener in Hyderabad by 28 runs, the hosts bounced back to win the second Test in Vizag by 106 runs.