New Delhi: Former India coach Ravi Shastri said that former India Test captain Rohit Sharma used to get bored while batting in the middle order, so he decided to make ‘Hitman’ as a opener in 2019.
Shastri’s decision proved to be a ‘master stroke’ and it gave a new twist to Rohit’s career in the traditional format.
Shastri became the head coach of India in 2017 and in 2021 he handed over the command to Rahul Dravid. During his four -year tenure, Rohit emerged as one of India’s most aggressive Test opener.
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Shastri said in the ‘ICC’ Review, ‘This boy used to get bored while batting at number five. I then started considering why he is so successful in ODI cricket? He likes to go to the field early to bat.
This former veteran of India, all -rounder, said, ‘I thought that if he was sent for batting first, he will have enough time to play, shoot the fast bowlers. The stage was ready for him. If he adopts it, then his Test career can get a new direction.
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Rohit recently said goodbye to this traditional format of the game. He scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches in his brilliant career with the help of 12 centuries and 18 half -centuries. Shastri said that he had decided to use Rohit as an opener in the Test during the 2019 World Cup. He was the player to score the most runs in the tournament by scoring five centuries in this World Cup and 648 runs at an average of 81.
The former all -rounder said that he had discussed the idea of advancing Rohit as a opener with the then captain Virat Kohli. Rohit was immediately successful, he scored two centuries in his first Test against South Africa in his first Test.
Shastri said about Rohit, ‘He batted a lot at the fifth and sixth, but he could not show full concentration. He used to lose his wicket by scoring 20, 30 runs. (I thought) Let’s put him under pressure and send it up (in batting order). I remember that I told him in the West Indies, ‘We want you to start the innings’.
Rohit has scored nine out of his 12 centuries as an opener out of his 12 centuries.
