Eng vs Ind 2021: Rohit Sharma has to play a mentor’s role for other openers – Saba Karim

Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Saba Karim has stated that Rohit Sharma has to play a mentor’s role for the other openers in the tough English conditions. Rohit has all the experience under his belt and he is going to hold the key in the tough conditions.

The right-hander will be the team’s first choice opener and it will be interesting to note his performances in the England conditions. Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against England and thus it is expected that India will open with Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma.

Furthermore, the team also has players like KL Rahul and Hanuma Vihari who can open the innings with Rohit Sharma. Moreover, there is Abhimanyu Easwaran in the standby players, who can also be added to the squad.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has done a fine job in the Indian conditions but he hasn’t been able to grab his opportunities while playing in the overseas conditions. Rohit had scored a truckload of runs in the 2019 World Cup as he had finished as the highest run-getter with 648 runs in nine matches at an average of 81. Thus, Rohit has delivered in the tough English conditions but he is yet to do that in the red-ball version.

Saba Karim said while talking to India News, “Talking to him [Rohit] is very necessary as he has to play a mentor’s role for the other new openers coming in. The conditions are tough there for batting and if you have an opening partnership there and your top-order clicks, you create a brilliant platform to put up a big score.”

“Rohit Sharma has got a different role for Team India in the last one to one-and-a-half years. I feel they have made a core group of leaders, where captain Virat Kohli is right at the top, after that vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and after that definitely if someone’s name comes, it is Rohit Sharma.”

Rohit Sharma is going to play a crucial role and he will aim to be at the top of his game in the upcoming Test series. The first Test match between India and England will take place at Trent Bridge, Nottingham from August 4.