India batting coach Vikram Rathour on Sunday (August 15) advised Rohit Sharma to be a "little more selective" with his shots after the veteran opener got out while executing a pull shot for the second time in the ongoing Test series against England.
“There will be analysis, of course every-time they get out, we will be having a talk, what happened and what they were thinking while batting or while they played that shot,” Rathour said at the virtual post-day press conference after the fourth day’s play at Lord’s.
"As far Rohit is concerned, I think he has made it clear that that is the shot which fetches him runs, that is the shot where he gets runs with, so he is going to play those shots and we are backing him to play those shots, only thing he needs to do is to be a little-more selective, with what to play and when to play…"
Rohit fell for 21 after getting his eyes in during India’s second innings. He went for his trademark pull off Mark Wood’s bowling but couldn’t make the desired connection.
India ended the fourth day at 181/6 with Rishabh Pant (14*) and Ishant Sharma (4*) in the middle, leading the hosts by 154 runs in the second essay.
India skipper Virat Kohli also got out after being set. Left-arm pacer Sam Curran cut short his innings on 20.
According to Rathour, Kohli was undone by a lapse in concentration.
“Kohli, I don’t think there was any issue, it was just a lapse in concentration today, where his bat went to the ball, which he shouldn’t have played and nothing more, I don’t think anything old (is) coming back,” the batting coach said.
Rathour feels the visitors need to set a target close to the 200-run mark for England in the fourth innings.
“You are right, this will be a typical fifth day wicket of a Test match, where the ball will go up and down and is also turning, like we saw. So, again like I said earlier, if we can take the target near 200 runs, then it won’t be easy for England,” he said.
“Like (Ravindra) Jadeja bowled in the first innings, he was accurate, if he gets turn from there, he can create problems for the batsmen, and our pace attack is bowling well.
"If the ball stays up and down, like we are seeing, when the ball is hard, then, if we can add 30-40 runs more and take 1-2 early England wickets, then there will be pressure on them,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)
