IND vs AUS 2023: Rohit Sharma was an underachiever but has now become a match-winner in Test cricket – Mark Waugh

Former Australian opener Mark Waugh was full of praise on the Indian captain Rohit Sharma after India’s innings and 132-run win at the VCA Stadium, Nagpur on Saturday. Rohit led from the front as he scored a brilliant knock of 120 runs to help India post 400 runs on the board and take a 223-run lead.

Waugh believes Rohit was an underachiever in Test matches in the past but he has now become a match-winner. Rohit had got off to a dream start in his Test career but he couldn’t deliver the goods while batting in the middle order.

However, Rohit was able to prove his mettle when he started opening the innings in Test matches. The right-hander scored 368 runs in four Test matches against England in tough English conditions in 2021 and it was the turning point in his career. There is no doubt that Rohit has been a late bloomer in Test matches but he is making the most of his experience to deliver for the team.

“He (Rohit) has had an interesting Test career, hasn’t he? In the early bit of his career, he was an underachiever of sorts. He needed to work on his discipline. But, he has always had a touch of class, he has always had time like all the great players. He has a very simple technique. He has always been a match-winner in white-ball cricket, but he is a match-winner in Test cricket now.

“He has got the discipline, he has got the range of shots. It’s all about the mental game now. He is a class player, in all conditions. He plays well overseas, he has got a perfect game for Indian conditions. He has got the range, he watches the ball so closely, and he has got great hands. He reads the game well, he can go up the gear and down the gear, according to the situation,” Mark Waugh told Star Sports.

Rohit was at his majestic best on a difficult pitch in Nagpur and his knock was the difference between the two teams. The Indian skipper will want to continue his good show against Australia in the rest of the Test series.

The second Test match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi from Friday onwards.