Former India batsman VVS Laxman heaped praise on Rohit Sharma for his terrific evolution as a Test opener after his stunning performance in the five-match Test series against England.
He scored a brilliant maiden overseas Test century (127 off 256 balls laced with 14 boundaries and one six) to help India win the fourth Test by 157 runs to take a 2-1 lead over England at The Oval.
The right-hander is the leading run-scorer for India and second-highest run-scorer behind Joe Root (564 runs) in the Test series against England with 368 runs in 4 Test matches at an average of 52.
Laxman wrote in his column for Times of India: “Almost every player without exception had a hand in shaping the destination of the fourth Test. India was in a hole at 127 for seven, put in on day one when the first hero emerged in the shape of Shardul Thakur. As the match progressed, several others stood up and asked to be counted, not least, the remarkable Rohit Sharma.”
He further added, “In his evolution as a Test opener is a terrific lesson for those aspiring for a successful career in any chosen field. One of the all-time greats in white-ball formats, Rohit has committed to establishing himself as a Test batsman. He has been fantastic this year, and the second-innings hundred, his first away from home, will remain his most cherished.
Since embracing the opening role two years back, Rohit has put his attacking instincts on the backburner overseas, batting out of character without looking out of sync.”
The legendary batsman also lauded Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Umesh Yadav for their performance against England in the Test series.
Laxman concluded, “Jasprit Bumrah’s post-lunch spell on the final day, easily the spell of the series by an Indian bowler, broke the Test wide open, exemplifying the value he brings to the side. The last day, however, wasn’t just about Bumrah. Ravindra Jadeja did everything and more that was asked of him, Umesh Yadav capped off an excellent return to Test cricket by cleaning up the lower order, and Thakur complemented his two fifties with the crucial wicket of Joe Root.”
(Times of India inputs)
