Indian opener Rohit Sharma was demoted to number three in the match against New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup. Knowing Rohit’s weakness against left-arm pacers it was perhaps a thought from the management to send him down the order is what Sunil Gavaskar said in his explanation regarding the entire matter. As it turned out, luck did not favour Rohit much as he was dismissed for just 14 after being dropped once in his innings.
Sunil Gavaskar talking to Sports Tak tried explaining what could be the reason behind Rohit Sharma being asked to bat at number 3 against the Kiwis. He slammed the changes in the batting order saying that the team perhaps did not trust Rohit’s technique against Trent Boult.
Rohit Sharma Has Been A Succesful Opener For India: Sunil Gavaskar
“Ishan Kishan is a hit-or-miss player and it is better if a batsman like him walks in No.4 or No.5. He could then play according to the situation of the game. Now what has happened is that Rohit Sharma has been told that we don’t trust you to face the left-arm fast bowling of Trent Boult,” Gavaskar said.
“If you do that to a player who has been playing at a position for so many years, he himself will think that maybe he doesn’t have the ability. If Ishan Kishan had made 70-odd runs we would have applauded. But when the ploy doesn’t work, you are going to be criticised,” he added.
Gavaskar further said that the team management was wrong in asking a young player like Ishan Kishan to open and take responsibilities in a crucial game against New Zealand.
“I don’t know if it is a fear of failure but I know that whatever changes they made to the batting order today did not work. “Rohit Sharma is such a great batsman and he has been sent in at No.3. Kohli himself, who has made so many runs at No.3 demotes himself to No.4. A young player like Ishan Kishan has been given the responsibility of opening the batting,” Gavaskar signed off.
India need to win all their remaining games and hope that a few results go their way if they want to make it to the semi-finals. They take on Afghanistan next on November 3 in Abu Dhabi.
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