Sanjay Manjrekar thinks captain Rohit Sharma’s form will be key for the team.©AFP
Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar thinks captain Rohit Sharma’s form will be key for the team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Rohit, who missed the two-match test series against Bangladesh, last played a full series during India’s 2021 tour of England. Since then, he has been in and out of the team for multiple reasons. On the eve of the first test, Majrekar said that if Rohit somehow manages to close the gap caused by lack of playing time, India can have a reliable top position against Australia.
“The last time he played a full series was in England. I have never seen anyone hit so well at the top of the table. Rohit Sharma was by far India’s best batsman in that series. He played well against a difficult attack, consisting of James Anderson. As he returns to Tests after a long hiatus, it’s about match training and match fitness. But with the technique he has and the temperament at this stage of his career, it’s great to see. If he can close the gap created by lack of training soon then India will have a reliable top class batsman for the series,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
Notably, Rohit has missed eight of India’s last 10 test matches.
His form, as well as his captaincy credentials, will be under the scanner when India take on Australia in the first test at Nagpur.
India is likely to field three spinners including Ravichandran Ashwin and returning Ravindra Jadeja.
Foreign teams have often struggled to overcome conditions in India, beating England 3-1 in 2021.
Australia last won a test series in India in 2004 and India has won the teams’ last three encounters, including twice in Australia.
(with AFP inputs)
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