Rohit Sharma's 3 most underrated Test knocks before he became an opener
Team India captain Rohit Sharma will be under a lot of pressure when the hosts face New Zealand in the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, which will be played from October 24 to October 28. He has only one half-century in his last six Test innings, which came in the second essay in Bengaluru, scoring a fluent 52 against New Zealand.
Rohit has faced many ups and downs in his Test career. However, since being moved up to open the innings, he has been a lot more consistent. In 35 matches as a Test opener, the 37-year-old has scored 2,648 runs at an average of 46.45, with the aid of nine hundreds and eight fifties. The Indian skipper will look to draw confidence from his success when Team India face the Kiwis in Pune.
If we talk about Rohit's Test career before turning opener, he smashed two hundreds in his first two innings. However, he couldn't maintain his consistency. Being an exceptional talent, though, the right-handed batter came up with a few crucial knocks in the middle order. In this feature, we look back at Rohit's three most underrated Test knocks before he became an opener.
#3 (102*) vs Sri Lanka in Nagpur - November 2017
Batting at No. 6, Rohit scored a fine 102* off 160 in the second Test of the series against Sri Lanka in Nagpur in November 2017. The Lankans elected to bat first but were restricted to a below par score of 205. In reply, the hosts notched up 610-6 declared.
Virat Kohli hit a double hundred, while three batters notched up three-figures - one of them being Rohit. The right-handed batter played an impressive knock lasting 191 minutes, which featured eight fours and six. Rohit featured in a 173-run fifth-wicket stand with Kohli.
The batter looked in complete control during his stay out in the middle and played an important role in accelerating the innings as India pushed for a declaration.
He brought up a fine hundred by slicing a back of a length delivery from Dasun Shanaka between point and cover. The knock came in a winning cause as India hammered Sri Lanka by an innings and 239 runs.
#2 (72) vs New Zealand in Auckland - February 2014
There have always been some question marks over Rohit's technique while batting in overseas conditions. He, however, gave a good account of himself in the Auckland Test during India's tour of New Zealand in 2014. Even as the Kiwis went on to win the closely contested clash by 40 runs, Rohit, batting at No. 5, contributed a fine half-century in the first innings.
India elected to field first but ended up conceding 503 as Brendon McCullum slammed 224. In response, the visitors folded up for 202. Rohit top-scored for India, scoring 72 off 120, with the aid of eight fours and a six. The batter got off to a slow start and at one point of time was on one off 24.
The elegant right-hander found some rhythm when he struck three fours in an over from Neil Wagner. Rohit reached an impressive fifty by placing a short of length delivery from Tim Southee on the on side for a single. He also slammed a six off Kane Williamson over long-on. The batter's knock ended when he inside-edged a delivery from Trent Boult back onto his stumps.
#1 (63*) vs Australia in Melbourne - December 2018
India had a memorable tour of Australia in 2018-19, and Rohit played his part in the visitors' famous victory in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The right-hander scored an unbeaten 63 off 114 as the visitors declared their first innings on 443-7.
After a century from Cheteshwar Pujara and fifties from Mayank Agarwal and Kohli, Rohit added to Australia's woes with a patient half-century, which featured five fours in a knock that lasted 186 minutes. He added 76 for the sixth wicket with keeper-batter Rishabh Pant (39 off 76).
The resolute knock came against a strong Australian bowling line-up featuring Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins. Significantly, the effort came in a winning cause. Australia responded with 151 in their first innings and were bowled out for 261 in their second essay, chasing a target of 399.