Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has acknowledged the pivotal role played by former coach Ravi Shastri and then-captain Virat Kohli in transforming his Test career. Known for his dominance in limited-overs cricket, Sharma’s journey in Test cricket had initially been rocky.
His career took a decisive turn when he was promoted to open the batting—a move he credits to Shastri and Kohli, who encouraged him to take on the challenge. Before this shift, Sharma’s performances in the middle order had been inconsistent, leading to concerns about his place in the team.
The Critical Conversation That Changed Everything
During a podcast with sports presenter Jatin Sapru, Rohit Sharma opened up about a key discussion with Shastri and Kohli, where they asked him to try opening in Test cricket. Sharma admitted that at that point, he had no other option but to take the risk, despite the challenges of opening in red-ball cricket.
He revealed how, even after failing in a practice game, he decided to seize the opportunity. Sharma expressed his deep gratitude towards Shastri and Kohli for their unwavering support during this critical phase of his career. “I was very thankful to them for giving me that chance, especially in such a difficult format like Test cricket,” Sharma said.
Freedom to Play Without Pressure
Sharma also discussed how the support from Shastri and Kohli gave him the freedom to express himself. They encouraged him to play freely, which significantly boosted his confidence. Rohit embraced this new role with a fresh mindset, telling himself to play without the typical pressure associated with Test cricket. He added, “I just wanted to make the most of this second birth in Test cricket. I decided to play freely, whether it was the first ball of the match or later in the innings.”
This freedom allowed Sharma to become one of India’s finest Test openers, with his batting average climbing from the mid-thirties to almost 44. His performances will be crucial as India prepares for upcoming Test series against New Zealand and Australia.
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