Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on the opener, Rohit Sharma, saying he is a difficult batsman to keep quiet and England needs to get him out early to come back into the match in the ongoing day-night Test in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmadabad.
Rohit was one of the stars for India on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test being played at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmadabad, as the right-hander was dominant against the England attack in difficult batting conditions, scored 57*, and added a 64-run stand with captain Virat Kohli, who departed for 27, as India took the driving seat on Day 1 of the third Test in Ahmedabad.
The hosts are in a very position in the ongoing day-night Test after Axar Patel and R Ashwin shared 9 wickets between them to dismiss England for a paltry 112 on Wednesday (February 24), but Gavaskar feels England can still make a comeback in the game if they dismiss Rohit early on Day 2.
The legendary batsman believes that the hitman can be the deciding factor in the Pink-ball Test the way he is batting in the ongoing third Test against England in Ahmedabad.
Gavaskar told Star Sports: “The way Rohit Sharma is batting, the confidence that Ajinkya Rahane is showing, there was no night watchman after the last wicket of the day fell, that shows India is pretty confident of overhauling England's total and get a substantial lead to make sure they don't have to bat in the fourth innings. Even if they have to, maybe for not too many runs.”
He continued, “Rohit knows how to play, how to pace his innings. That's what he is going to try to do. And he is the kind of player who can't be put under any pressure. He can play through the off-side, play through the on-side and he is such a difficult batsman to keep quiet. He will be scoring all the time.
When the opposition has got only 112, they can't let him get off to a start (on Thursday). They need his wicket more than anybody else's wicket. If they get him out early tomorrow, they are in with a chance. That's why Rohit is going to be crucial to this match from tomorrow onwards.”
Kohli was dropped when he was batting on 24 towards the end of Day 1 play, but eventually dismissed by England spinner Jack Leach and Gavaskar said the tourists must have been happy to get India to captain out early as they got some relief in the game.
Former Indian captain further said, “He didn't trouble the England bowlers after that escape (dropped chance of Anderson). That is something that England will be happy about. If India had to go close of play with just two wickets down with Virat Kohli batting on 30 and Rohit Sharma batting on fifty-odd, that would have meant the England team would have had a sleepless night.”
He signed off by saying, “Now they are in with a chance, Ajinkya Rahane is new to the crease, they have got the rock Cheteshwar Pujara for 0. Clearly, England will say to themselves that if we bowl well and take our catches, then we can restrict India to a reasonable total.”
(With India Today Inputs)
