Former Indian batsman and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra was impressed with the way Rohit Sharma has been tackling the English conditions and refraining from playing big shots and exercising caution so far in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.
Rohit has been brilliant so far in the ongoing Test series against England. The opener is India's second-highest run-scorer after KL Rahul with 230 runs at an average of 46 in three Tests and Chopra lauded the right-hander for adapting his game to the English conditions brilliantly.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “He has made a huge change. He would be giving a constant reminder to himself that this is his new habit, that he will not hit the pitched-up deliveries, will play close to his body and extremely carefully. I am very happy.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator added, “When you measure greatness, there are many criteria. One is longevity, secondly the stats, the third is how you inspire the others around you, have you created enough difference on and sometimes off the field as well.
After that, the last one is adaptability, whether you have adapted yourself over a period of time. When you see all great players, they adapted their game somewhere or the other. The Rohit Sharma we are seeing is adapting.”
He also felt Rohit has now realized that he can’t play the attacking game at the top of the order in English conditions and the way he is playing in the Test series has left the commentator in awe for him.
Chopra signed off by saying, “He is saying that these are English conditions and he is playing as a Test opener that he cannot play the free-flowing shots and is going to curb his instincts. That is very difficult. It is very difficult for a batsman who throws his bat to stop it, what he is doing and is successful at that as well, is not an easy thing to do. So, I have a lot of respect. It's mind over matter. So Rohit Sharma, absolutely hats off my friend.”
