India captain Rohit Sharma was in a playful mood as he addressed the press conference on Christmas Eve in Melbourne. Discussing his form and the team’s plans for the much-anticipated Boxing Day Test, Rohit was at his inimitable best, fielding questions from reporters with enthusiasm.
When asked if he had spoken to Virat Kohli about his much-discussed weakness with deliveries outside the off-stump, Rohit Sharma said: “You only said he is a modern-day great. Modern-day greats will figure out their way or the path (to overcome issues).”
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The Indian captain expressed his unwavering support for his long-time teammate, who has struggled to resist the temptation to poke at deliveries in the uncertainty corridor outside the off-stump. Kohli had scored a century in the second innings of the first Test in Perth but has otherwise fallen victim to Australia’s off-side trap on several occasions.
In the three Tests so far, Kohli’s scores read 5, 100 not out, 7, 11, and 3. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have exploited the former Indian captain’s vulnerability by luring him into playing at deliveries outside the off-stump. Kohli had shown greater discipline in this area during last year’s tour of South Africa but appears more susceptible during the ongoing series in Australia.
ROHIT TIGHT-LIPPED ON HIS BATTING SPOT
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma downplayed concerns about his own form, stating that he has been focusing on the basics during training sessions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Confirming he is 100 per cent fit to play in the Boxing Day Test after overcoming a knee injury scare, Rohit remained tight-lipped about his batting position in the playing XI.
Since his arrival in Australia, Rohit has been batting at No. 6, having sacrificed the opening spot to accommodate KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The new opening pair impressed in Rohit’s absence in Perth. However, Rohit has not made significant contributions from the No. 6 position so far.
“Let’s not worry about that. I think ‘who bats where?’ is something that we need to figure out within ourselves. It’s not something I should be discussing at every press conference. Whatever it takes for our team to look good or gives the best chance to succeed, we will do that,” Rohit said.
KL Rahul, selected for a middle-order role, has excelled in the series, scoring 235 runs, including two fifties. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 161 in Perth, has struggled against the new ball in Adelaide and Melbourne.
Addressing concerns regarding the form of younger players such as Yashasvi, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, Rohit said: “See, as I told you, all these youngsters – Rishabh, Gill, Jaiswal, all these youngsters are in the same boat. We don’t want to complicate what they are doing. They know what they are expected to do.
“Our job here is to keep talking to them about small, small things like match awareness. I don’t think we need to tell them more and complicate stuff,” he added.
With the series level at 1-1, India will aim to put pressure on Australia in the iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
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