Rohit Sharma is too good a player to not be playing all formats, says Vikram Rathour
India batting coach Vikram Rathour has backed Rohit Sharma to do well as a Test opener in all conditions. After a start-stop test career, he has been given another opportunity in the format, this time as an opener in the upcoming series against South Africa to replace the underperforming KL Rahul.
Newly-appointed India batting coach Vikram Rathour has expressed his confidence in Rohit Sharma’s ability saying he is 'too good a player' to not be playing in all three formats and backed him to do well as a Test opener in all conditions.
Rohit is one of the greats of white-ball cricket but has had a start-stop Test career. He has been given another opportunity in the five-day format, this time in the upcoming series against South Africa as he is set to replace KL Rahul at the top of the order.
"He is too good a player to not be playing in any game. That is what is everyone is thinking. He has done so well in white-ball cricket as an opener so there is no reason why he can't succeed as a Test opener provided he gets enough opportunities," Rathour said to the PTI ahead of the second T20 against South Africa here on Monday adding that, "If he comes good, he will be a huge asset for the team."
Rohit will be getting the opportunity to open in Tests at home but Rathour said the stylish Mumbai batsman has it in him to succeed overseas also.
"At the moment, I am not too sure what the playing eleven for the first Test will be but if Rohit does well and is opening, why not," he said when asked about the possibility of him opening on overseas tours.
The 32-year-old has scored more than 10,000 runs in limited-overs cricket but has managed to play only 27 Tests and scored 1,585 runs including three centuries and 10 half-centuries, averaging 39.62, much lower than his ODI average of 48.52.
However, Shubman Gill has been picked in the Test squad as well which might create a perform or perish situation for the Mumbai Indians skipper. Rohit was a part of India’s Test squad against West Indies but was not included in the playing XI.
