Former India opener Aakash Chopra isn’t really a fan of the modus operandi of Rohit Sharma’s batting in T20I.
This year, the Indian skipper has endorsed the newly-adopted aggressive batting approach, where he’d play high-risk high-reward shots from the onset of his innings, instead of taking the conservative approach he, and Kohli and Rahul, had until last year.
On Tuesday, in the first T20I against Australia, in Mohali, Rohit Sharma got out for a cheap score, managing only 11 runs in 9 balls. He got out, caught in the deep. Looking for the mid-wicket boundary, Rohit whipped Hazlewood, but, got the toe-end of his bat and was caught at deep square leg by Nathan Ellis.
Virat Kohli, too, got out for a low score, 2 runs off 7 balls. The former India skipper aimed to smash Ellis down the ground but gave a straightforward catch to Cameron Green at mid-on.
With two of the top three out so cheaply and early, India were in a bit of a pickle. But KL Rahul returned to form with a fifty and Suryakumar Yadav scored 46 to get India back on track. Hardik Pandya gave the finishing assault with 71* off 30 balls to take India to 208.
Aakash Chopra criticizes Rohit Sharma’s batting approach in T20Is
In his recent YouTube video, Aakash Chopra made his displeasure regarding Rohit’s batting approach public. The former opener said that Sharma is capable of scoring 75 off 40 balls, but for that he’d have to stay at the crease for long and not get out playing a risky shot.
“I personally don’t like Rohit Sharma’s ultra-attacking approach. I don’t like it for a reason. He is selling himself short. He is a very good cricketer, but if he tries to hit every ball for a six, he is eventually going to get out. If he bats for 40 balls, he will definitely score 75 runs. It’s guaranteed. But is he giving himself that opportunity to bat that long? He is a special player and needs to take some time to get himself in,” Chopra said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
The total of 208 proved to be short as Australia gunned it down with 4 balls to spare, after blistering knocks from Cameron Green (61 off 30) and Matthew Wade (45 off 21).
The second T20I is scheduled for Friday at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur.
