Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar advised Captain Rohit Sharma to make a quick mental adjustment as he prepares for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.
Gavaskar hailed Rohit's aggressive approach in the ODI World Cup 2024, but now the former Indian captain stresses the need for a complete shift in mindset as an opener in South Africa.
The legendary opener suggests that Rohit should tone down his aggressive instincts when facing the red Kookaburra ball in the Test series in South Africa, starting on December 26 in Centurion.
The Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion will mark Rohit’s return to competitive cricket since the 2023 World Cup final. However, coming out of disappointment over the CWC 2023 final defeat, Rohit seems focused and ready for his first test assignment as captain in South Africa.
Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports: “First and foremost, the challenge would be to get your mental state into a Test match situation. He has been batting in the one-day format, where he had decided that he would be playing the attacking role and try and score as much as possible before the field restrictions were lifted in the first 10 overs. We saw that in the World Cup.”
He added, “That was his approach for the World Cup. For Test cricket, he has to change his approach completely because he has to think in terms of batting the whole day. If he bats the whole day, then clearly, with the range of shots he has got, he will be able to end up with 150-plus not, then India will be 300-plus or 350-plus.”
Rohit was seen in a light mood during the training session, and the former Indian skipper said that the change was really needed for the senior opener, but he has a big challenge ahead of him.
Gavaskar signed off by saying, “That's the change he has to do. As a batter, when you are batter-captain, the moment you score run, your confidence in leading the side also increases. That's going to be a big challenge for Rohit Sharma.”
(With Star Sports/PTI Inputs)
