India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has expressed confidence in struggling Rohit Sharma despite his string of low scores in recent months.

Following the Border-Gavaskar Trophy debacle in Australia, where Rohit managed to score only 31 runs at an abysmal average of 6.20, the Indian captain bagged 2 off 7 balls in the first ODI against England in Nagpur on Thursday (February 6).

However, Kotak remains optimistic about Rohit's abilities to bounce back. "See, I personally don't think there is any problem. In the last three One-dayers (before the series opener in Nagpur), Rohit scored 56, 64, and 35 (against Sri Lanka last year), nearly averaging 50-plus,” Kotak told reporters.

“We are talking about a player who has got 31 ODI hundreds. When he keeps scoring runs in back-to-back matches, nobody asks, 'When will he fail?'"

"Sometimes when somebody gets out or is going through a lean patch, I don't think I would be worried about their form. Yes, in the Australia Test series – that was a tough time. About the One-dayers, the way he batted in the last three One-days before the first match (in Nagpur), he has always been scoring runs. So, not really so much concern about that," he further stated in the pre-match presser.

India successfully chased down 249 in ODI series opener despite losing two early wickets. Riding on half-centuries from Shubman Gill (87), Shreyas Iyer (59) and Axar Patel (52), the hosts overhauled the target in 38.4 overs with four wickets in hand.

"(Shubman) Gill, Shreyas (Iyer) and Axar (Patel) batted really well. You are going to lose some wickets, whether it's openers or middle-order. As a batting unit or as a team, there were a lot of positives – the way we batted, the way we showed our intent," Kotak remarked.

The second ODI between India and England will be played in Cuttack on Sunday (February 9).