Ex-Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar conveyed some advice to current captain Rohit Sharma. This advice is about Rohit’s struggle to make big scores in the ongoing England Test series.
The 58-year-old wants the great opener to stay involved in his batting and focus on the process while captaining, rather than becoming emotional with each dismissal.
Manjrekar’s comments came when Rohit returned from the past two Tests against England with scores of 24, 39, 14, and 13, with India winning one and losing one.
The right-hander also struggled with the bat in South Africa, scoring five, duck, 39, and 16* in two Tests that finished in a 1-1 tie.
On Thursday (February 8), Manjrekar informed ESPNCricinfo:
“I just wonder whether Rohit Sharma is getting too caught up in trying to make an impact as a leader. It’s got to be Rohit Sharma the batter first and then the captain because when you’re captain, most things are beyond your control.
Sanjay Manjrekar
He continued:
“Try and do the right things and hold the words of MS Dhoni. You do the process and wait for things to happen, but batting is something that’s within his control very much.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar hopes Rohit Sharma will bounce back in the next three Tests against England
Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that Rohit Sharma think on his Test hundreds in England and India (vs Australia) during the previous two years before returning to his best in the final three games against the English squad.
The cricketer-turned-commentator explained:
“If Rohit Sharma becomes the Rohit Sharma for a couple of years back, especially the one that we saw in England in that full series would be great. The Rohit Sharma that we saw in the first Test match in the home series against Australia.
Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar added:
“He’s got to go back to where he looked like a batter who looked supreme in Test matches. We want Rohit Sharma getting runs.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
In 2021, Rohit managed 368 runs in four England Tests with a 52.57 average. The 36-year-old also clocked 242 runs in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy during four Tests against Australia, averaging 40.33. His next challenge is captaining India in Rajkot’s third Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium starting February 15. The current series standing is a 1-1 tie.