With Rahul Dravid occupying the No. 3 position for close to 16 years in India’s Test line-up, they never really felt the need to look at someone else.
Then, along came Cheteshwar Pujara, who showed great appetite for this crucial slot. However, a slew of underwhelming performances by the Saurashtra batsman in the recent past has left India searching for a fresh occupant at No. 3, and skipper Virat Kohli believes Rohit Sharma is the man for the job.
The only issue here is that the stylish batsman, who is vastly experienced in the ODI and T20 formats, has never got an extended run in Tests. In fact, he is still finding his feet in the longest format, having appeared in only 11 Tests and batted at different positions.
So, how difficult would it be for Rohit to make the transition to No. 3, when India take on Sri Lanka in the first Test from August 12 in Galle? “I don’t think it should be very difficult for Rohit to bat at No. 3. He is confident of his abilities. The only thing is that shuffling here and there has not helped him in the past. He should grab this opportunity,” former India wicketkeeper Kiran More told TOI on Tuesday.
“It’s good that Virat feels Rohit should bat at that important position. At the end of the day, any batsman who gets a chance has to prove himself, and hopefully, Rohit will be able to do that in the Test series,” More added.
Former India batsman and Mumbai coach, Pravin Amre, too seemed to agree with More, saying: “It’s not a new situation for Rohit. He has batted at the top of the order in about 50 ODIs. So, he has certainly faced the new ball for extended periods. It should not be a problem for him to adjust at No. 3. In fact, he will be eager to make the most of this opportunity.”
Skipper Kohli hopes Rohit will be able to bat aggressively and create the same impact that former India opener Virender Sehwag managed during his long and illustrious career. But, would it be prudent to compare the two, given that they approach the game differently? “I don’t think Rohit will be expected to play Sehwag’s role. After all, Sehwag was an opener. I feel India is looking to replicate the Aussie approach that’s based on aggression. Their batsmen are constantly looking to score through boundaries. Rohit, I feel, is capable of scoring like that,” said Amre.
On the other hand, More felt it would not be correct to compare Sehwag and Rohit. “Every individual has his own way of tackling situations. Each one has to survive at whatever position he is batting at. Rohit has got the experience, and I am sure he will come out with flying colours.”
Rohit’s elevation in the batting order means someone of the caliber of Pujara may be forced to sit out of the Tests in Sri Lanka, or at best, bat at a different position. Would that be unfair to Pujara, who probably is just going through a lean patch?
“The fact that you are being forced to chose between Pujara and Rohit is a good thing for Indian cricket. Both of them are top quality players. Then you also have KL Rahul waiting in the wings for the opener’s slot. The competition will only benefit India,” said More.