Former India coach Ravi Shastri said skipper Rohit Sharma needed to go out to bat with a clear mindset and change his tactics so that he gets runs in the No.6 position as well.
“I would like to see Rohit Sharma, his tactics change a bit because he can still be extremely dangerous at that number (six). I think he’s got to be very clear in his mindset to go out there and take the attack to the opposition and not worry about anything else,” Shastri said in the ICC Review.
“The last thing you want is him to be in two minds whether to defend or attack. In his case, it should be attack. He picks up length quickly, he should take the opposition on at that number. Because if he gets away in the first 10-15 minutes, in any way, he’s not got past that 15-20 minutes, half an hour. So why don’t you play a natural game, go and take the attack to the opposition and take it from there?” he added.
Shastri said that the best way for Rohit to find form would be to counter-attack the bowlers just like the best No. 6 batters of the world. Rohit hasn’t had the best of forms in the position, scoring 10, 3 and 6 in his last 3 innings after moving down the order so that KL Rahul retains his spot as the opener after his recent success.
“I think that is his best way of not just coming back into form, winning a game for India as well. Because that number is a crucial number. The best No.6s in the world are the guys who know how to have the ability to counter-attack. They read the situation well. Yes, if a lot of wickets have fallen, maybe for a little while. You might have to be circumspect, but the intent has to be far sooner than later.
“Especially when you have that kind of ability and especially when you open the batting for India and you have all the shots for Australian conditions,” he added.
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