Sunil Gavaskar, a former cricket player for India who is now a broadcaster, has backed India captain Rohit Sharma to start the Indian chase in the current BGT 2024 Melbourne Test in the manner of Virender Sehwag on Day 5. Notably, with one wicket left, Australia had increased its lead to 333 runs.
India will need a strong start from their openers if they are to have any hope of chasing down the enormous score. Rohit Sharma is bound to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and hopes will be on them to give India a solid start to keep the team’s hopes alive in the Test and keep them in contention for WTC 2025 final spot.
Like Virender Sehwag did during India's historic 387-run chase against England in Chennai in 2008.
India got off to a fast start because of Sehwag's 83 (68), which included four sixes and eleven fours. And Sunil Gavaskar had complete faith in Rohit Sharma to emulate Sehwag and give the side an aggressive start.
“Yeah, I think, you know, because this is, this is such a situation where he can actually give the team a fabulous start just like Virender Sehwag did in that chase in 2008 against England when India chased down 387 in a day. So clearly I think, not in a day the start the previous evening, but he made it easy for the Indian batters the next day. So clearly, yes, I think a good start, like I said would be absolutely God sent,” said Gavaskar to India Today.
However, it's easier said than done as Rohit Sharma has struggled the entire Test season. In the ongoing BGT 2024, Rohit has 22 runs from 4 innings. As a result, India's captain will be desperate to get runs in the second innings.
Speaking ahead, Gavaskar urged that India strategize their progress on an hourly basis on Day 5 rather than focusing on the enormous aim.
“Well, the key point really is not to, think too far ahead about the 330, whatever target is set for them. They need to break it down into not just sessions, but intervals, like drinks interval that drinks intervals will be so much. At the lunch interval, we’ll be so much, at the first drinks interval after lunch, how much then you know by hour they should plan it by the hour rather than by the session. And see where they are and assess the situation from there,” he added.
England holds the record for the highest successful run-chase in the history of Test cricket at the MCG after they tracked down 332 back in 1928. In the 21st century, barring India, only the Proteas are on the list of successful chases at the MCG by a visiting team after they chased down 183 to win by nine wickets.
