Former Pakistan captain and now a cricket analyst, Ramiz Raja has praised India opener Rohit Sharma, saying he is “very elegant to watch.” However, the former Pakistan captain believes Sharma has yet to develop in the purest format.
India’s white-ball vice-captain has an opportunity to shine, particularly abroad, where India will play six Tests, including the World Test Championship final (WTC) and a five-match Test series.
The 34-year-old open for the first time in England in the prestigious WTC Final against New Zealand, which will begin on June 18. This will undoubtedly be his benchmark, as how he performs in difficult conditions in this part of the world will determine whether he has the ability to score overseas as well.
Virat Kohli was found lacking the first time he visited England in 2014, but he bounced back in style four years later, scoring over 600 runs in the five-match Test series.
He only has to improve his footwork a bit against the new ball- Ramiz Raja
He Is “Very Elegant To Watch”, Ramiz Raja Praises Rohit Sharma. In an interview, Raja stated that Sharma must wait and be patient with bowling-friendly conditions in England. “Rohit is a match-winner. He’s my favorite player, as there are only a few players left in the circuit who are aesthetically pleasing. Devon Conway also scored a double century recently, but one won’t give money to watch him bat”.
“Rohit, on the other hand, is a treat to watch. Once he settles in the middle, he goes on to record hefty innings. He only has to improve his footwork a bit against the new ball. In English conditions, it’s tough to deliver straight away, and it’ll be a challenge for him,” Raja stated.
Raja is taken aback by the 34-year-Test old’s cricket record so far since he has yet to make hundreds. Sharma not capitalizing on excellent starts and throwing his wicket away when set, according to the former Pakistan captain.
“Rohit Sharma hasn’t yet cracked the code in Test cricket. Based on the talent he’s got, I had predicted that he’ll become a legend in Tests. He has to spend a bit more time at the crease. Great players adjust according to conditions, and Rohit will look to spend some more time in the middle. You occupy the crease, and you will get runs. That has been the rule since the 1930s,” he added.
India’s prospective openers for the WTC final and the five-match Test series against England include Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Mayank Agarwal.
Also Read: Virat Kohli And Team To Get Break From Bio-Bubble Life After WTC Final: Report
