Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar on Friday (September 20) expressed his opinion on Rohit Sharma’s elevation as a Test opener, saying India’s limited-overs vice-captain can succeed in his new role if he tightens his defence.
For the South Africa Test series at home, KL Rahul has been left out due to poor form. While the MSK Prasad-led selection committee has picked 20-year-old Shubman Gill in place of Rahul, they have entrusted Rohit for the opening role along with Mayank Agarwal.
"Look we know there is a difference between red and white ball. The white ball can stop swinging in five overs. With the kind of stitches on the red leather, you may find it swinging even after the 35 to 40 over mark.
"So facing up against swing is a different matter and he does struggle a bit against the incoming ball. Having said that, if his shot selection is good, he will be able to score in test cricket too," Gavaskar told India Today.
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He then pointed out what Rohit needs to do to enjoy Virender Sehwag like success in red-ball cricket.
"When we talk about Rohit Sharma, he doesn't have the water tight defence like Virender Sehwag. But he perhaps has more shots than Sehwag. Sehwag would not hit the ball so much on the on side. Rohit can use the pull and hook very well. So Rohit does have more attacking shots. If he can tighten up his defence against the good balls, he can also be successful like Sehwag in Test cricket,” the legendary opener remarked.
Gavaskar also dismissed the notion that Sehwag did not have a good defence.
"A lot of people have this wrong notion that Virender Sehwag did not have a defence. I have seen very few batsmen who would have the bat coming down as straight as it did with Sehwag while he was defending," he opined before adding, "The bat and pad would be so close, like one sees with newly-married couples. There would not be a gap of even an inch from which the ball can go through. He had a terrific defence. It's another matter that he would summon the defensive shot only if he was bored attacking."
Gavaskar believes if Rohit can get a big hundred against South Africa, he could well end up opening in Test cricket for the next 2-3 years.
"With the way Hanuman Vihari has batted in the middle order, it's difficult to see Rohit Sharma making a comeback in the middle order currently. So this is his best opportunity. We will know after a couple of Test matches. Visakhapatnam and Pune have good wickets. So if he can get one good innings going on these pitches, he could well end up opening in the next two or three years," he concluded.
The three-match Test series between India and South Africa will kick-start on October 2 in Visakhapatnam.
