India’s newly-appointed batting coach Vikram Rathour on Tuesday (September 17) showered rich praise on Rohit Sharma, saying he is “too good a player” to not be playing across all formats.

Rathour, who replaced Sanjay Bangar as a batting coach, also backed Rohit to do wonders as a Test opener in all conditions.

For the South Africa Test series, KL Rahul has been left out due to poor form. While the MSK Prasad-led selection panel has picked 20-year-old Shubman Gill in place of Rahul, they have entrusted Rohit for the opening role along with Mayank Agarwal.

“He is too good a player to not be playing in any game. That is what is everyone is thinking. He has done so well in white-ball cricket as an opener so there is no reason why he can’t succeed as a Test opener provided he gets enough opportunities,” Rathour said while addressing the media ahead of the second T20 in Mohali.

“If he comes good, he will be a huge asset for the team,” he added.

Several cricket experts have raised doubts over Rohit’s technique as an opener in red-ball cricket, but Rathour reckons the stylish batsman has it in him to succeed overseas also.

“At the moment, I am not too sure what the playing eleven for the first Test will be but if Rohit does well and is opening, why not,” he said when asked about the possibility of Rohit opening on overseas tours.

In his 27 Tests thus far, Rohit Sharma has amassed 1585 runs at an average of 39.62 with 3 hundreds and 10 fifties.

(With PTI inputs)