Kolkata : Indian Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has sparked positivity despite Rohit Sharma’s long term rough patch in Batting form.
The Indian skipper has been going through poor form for several series, including home series against New Zealand and Border Gavaskar Trophy. He didn’t do well in Ranji Trophy comeback and got out for 2(7) in 1st ODI against England.
Therefore, questions regarding his Batting form have been raised.
However, Indian Batting coach Kotak has been optimistic regarding Rohit despite his lean patch.
Kotak stated that in ODI format before this series Rohit averaged almost 50 and got 31 tons in the format. Despite his lean patch in Tests, in this format he has scored runs and thus, Kotak isn’t much concerned regarding Rohit’s Batting form.
“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. 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,” Kotak stated during the pre-match press conference before the second ODI in Cuttack.
India successfully chased down 249 in Nagpur despite losing two early wickets. Shubman Gill’s 87 off 96 balls, supported by half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, helped secure the victory in 38.4 overs.
“(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 added.
