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Former India's star wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has a piece of advice for Rohit Sharma following latter's disappointing batting show in the recent Test series against New Zealand. Rohit's struggles with the bat and as captain contributed to India's 0-3 series defeat at home.
Dinesh Karthik has an advice for Rohit Sharma's batting struggles
While Dinesh Karthik acknowledged Rohit's aggressive intent and batting ability, he suggested that the Indian captain should also focus on a more technical approach. Karthik believes that by combining his natural attacking style with sound technique, Rohit can improve his performance in Test cricket.
"So, the one thing that Rohit Sharma is not doing, which he did very well when he took up his role as an opener, is trust his technique. Yes, attack is an option. But that will only come better if you trust your technique. Because you are worried you might get out defending or playing a soft shot, you are trying to attack. Then, that is fraught with risk. Because if it doesn't come off, it looks silly," Karthik told Cricbuzz.
Rohit Sharma didn't shy away from his batting failure which spanned throughout the series, resulting in Test series loss for India. Dinesh Karthik noted that while Rohit's aggressive style can be effective, it might also be causing him to settle into a comfort zone where he values intent over technique.
"In Test cricket, what I feel is that intent is getting him into a safe space where he feels when in trouble, use that. It's not a method where he's using it like he's using it in white ball cricket, one that Indian team needed. Here, a lot of times, when he is beaten a couple of times, when he is put under a little bit of pressure, an immediate instinct is to play an attacking shot fraught with risk. Now, with that comes the ability to get out as well," he added.
Karthik stated that while Rohit's aggressive approach has been successful in the past, it's not a guaranteed formula for success in all situations.
"I think his safe space right now, in Rohit Sharma's case, is to attack. Then in that, he feels he is a lot more comfortable doing because he's seen that success. But when it doesn't go right, it always will give the image that it has given so far," Karthik concluded.
The Hitman averaged a mere 13.30 in 10 innings during the home Test series, scoring a total of 133 runs with only one half-century to his name, which certainly raises fingers on his batting.
