Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has offered crucial advice to Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma ahead of the highly anticipated 2-Test series against South Africa, commencing on December 26. Gavaskar emphasized the need for Sharma to adapt his mindset, transitioning from his aggressive playing style in the ODI World Cup to a more nuanced approach suitable for Test cricket in South African conditions.
Sharma is set to make his return to competitive cricket in the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, marking his first match since the World Cup final. Despite the setback in the World Cup final, Sharma appears focused and prepared for his debut Test series in South Africa as captain.
Historically, Sharma's performance in South Africa has been modest, with an average slightly over 15 in 4 Tests, accumulating just 123 runs. However, since his transformation as a Test opener in 2019, expectations are high for a more impactful performance in this series.
Sharma's recent form has been outstanding, especially noted during the World Cup. He was a key player for India, scoring 597 runs with a remarkable strike rate of 125. His role as an aggressor at the top of the order was pivotal, contributing significantly to India's strong starts in the matches, including the semi-final and final. His fearless approach and aggression against the bowlers were highlights of his play.
However, Gavaskar advises a shift in this approach for the Test series, suggesting a more controlled and strategic play against the challenging red Kookaburra ball in South African conditions.
"First and foremost, the challenge would be to get your mental state into a Test match situation," Gavaskar told Star Sports.
"He has been batting in the one-day format, where he had decided that he would be playing the attacking role and try and score as much as possible before the field restrictions were lifted in the first 10 overs. We saw that in the World Cup. That was his approach for the World Cup.
"For Test cricket, he has to change his approach completely because he has to think in terms of batting the whole day. If he bats the whole day, then clearly, with the range of shots he has got, he will be able to end up with 150-plus not, then India will be 300-plus or 350-plus," he added.
In preparation for the upcoming Test, Sharma has been leading the Indian team's training sessions in South Africa. He participated in the intra-squad match in Pretoria and was actively involved in the team's first training session at SuperSport Park. Under the watchful eye of head coach Rahul Dravid, Sharma maintained a light and positive atmosphere during the training sessions.
"That's the change he has to do. As a batter, when you are batter-captain, the moment you score run, your confidence in leading the side also increases. That's going to be a big challenge for Rohit Sharma," Gavaskar added.
India's record in South Africa is a challenge the team is eager to overcome. Since 1992, India has played 23 Tests in South Africa, securing only one win. Sharma, as captain, is keen to lead the team to a historic series victory in the Rainbow Nation. With Sharma at the helm and a fresh strategy, the Indian cricket team looks to make a significant impact in the upcoming series, potentially rewriting their history in South African cricket.
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