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India's batting coach Vikram Rathour has shown full support for Rohit Sharma's batting style in Test cricket, specifically his use of pull shots, despite some criticism following Sharma's dismissal on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Centurion. Rathour emphasized that this shot has historically been successful for Sharma and remains a crucial part of his repertoire.
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Rohit, who started the Test with a confident boundary against Kagiso Rabada, seemed in control, especially with his judgment outside the off-stump on a challenging overcast morning at SuperSport Park. With the pitch not being particularly conducive to stroke-making, the need for the experienced Indian batters to spend time at the crease was critical. However, in an attempt to dominate, Rohit lost his wicket early, trying to attack a bouncer from Rabada in the 5th over.
The Indian skipper's dismissal, caught by debutant Nandre Burger at deep fine-leg, was a setback for the team. It was followed by quick dismissals of young players Shubman Gill and Yashavi Jaiswal, leaving India in a precarious position at 24 for 3.
Rohit, renowned for his pull and hook shots in limited-overs cricket, has been dismissed several times in Tests while playing these shots, seven times in the last two years. Despite this, batting coach Rathour underlined the importance of these shots in Sharma's batting approach. He stated that Sharma believes the pull shot is a productive one for him, and the team management fully supports him in continuing to play against short balls.
"Rohit, I mean, I have spoken about it earlier as well. This is the shot he believes in, this is the shot he scores a lot of runs with. This is his shot. So, he is going to play this shot," Rathour told the press in Centurion after the frist day's play.
"Some days, it will come off. Some days, it won't. So today, it didn't. We can talk about it. On another day, he will hit for a six and everybody will say this is the shot he plays really well. We have heard people say he is the best puller in the world. He believes in it. We are okay, as a team management we are backing it," he added.
Rathour's backing highlights the team's strategy of encouraging players to play to their strengths and maintain their natural game, even in the face of occasional setbacks. This support for Sharma's batting style reflects the management's confidence in his abilities and their commitment to allowing individual players to express themselves on the field, keeping in mind their proven track record and success with certain shots.
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