Rohit needs India to be versatile, in thoughts and batting order
Flexibility within the thoughts and adaptability within the center order might be key for India to unlock their batting potential on the ODI World Cup, in accordance with their captain Rohit Sharma.
“One thing I want in this team is to make sure everyone is okay to bat anywhere,” Rohit stated at a press convention to announce India’s Asia Cup squad in New Delhi. “That’s one thing we need to keep in mind. You need flexibility, guys who can step up at any position. No one should say, ‘I’m good at this position or I’m good at that position’. You want guys to be able to bat anywhere, that’s the message conveyed to every individual. Not now, but over the last three-four years.
In a sense, Rohit was reiterating the views of former India coach Ravi Shastri, who earlier in the week spoke of no player owning any one position and how even someone as senior as Virat Kohli ought to drop right down to No. 4 if the staff mixture demanded it.
“I do know it is robust for guys on the surface to grasp why a man who bats at six is batting at 4, however the message has been given. This is worldwide sport, not membership cricket, that you just’re speaking about. It’s not like we fall asleep giving a place for a sure participant after which change it the following morning.
“We say, ‘this is what we want’. You don’t want to be handicapped or stuck with one player batting in one position. Having said that, you want to get the best out of players in certain positions. All seven-eight numbers are open to anyone, that’s the message we have sent out for so many years now.”
Rohit cited Axar Patel’s instance to stress what he meant. He felt Axar is best suited to disrupt the opposition as a floater who can take the sport on at No. 4. Rohit felt this talent gave him the sting over, say R Ashwin or Washington Sundar.
“Where things boil down to is the batting option at No. 8 and 9,” Rohit stated. “Axar, you know he’s had a good run this year, batted well in white-ball cricket. He didn’t get much opportunity in red-ball, but played well in white-ball, especially IPL. He had a few opportunities in the West Indies but couldn’t make it big, but with him being there, it gives us the option of having a left-hander who can go up the order and play spinners if required, and also create batting depth.”
Ajit Agarkar, India’s chairman of selectors, additional clarified Rohit’s views on flexibility.
“Rohit didn’t say anyone can play anywhere,” Agarkar stated. “What he said is a player should be flexible in the mind. A player knows his role, where he’s going to play, which over he’s likely to bowl. A new-ball bowler will bowl with the new ball, or whether he can bowl in middle overs – those roles are set. But as the game or tournament evolves, you look at someone’s form or the team’s form, against whom you are playing, players should be flexible in the mind.
“Every captain has a plan that this batter will bat right here, and we are going to play on this particular means, however as event progresses, if somebody’s type is sweet, somebody is enjoying properly or match-ups dictate enjoying somebody in opposition to a sure bowler, we’re speaking about that form of flexibility, which is vital. That a lot expertise is there within the staff. If there’s expertise that flexibility will come. It doesn’t suggest function is just not specified, roles are specified, you’re feeling comfy due to that.”
At this point, Rohit stepped in to clarify his comments on flexibility and why it shouldn’t be taken literally.
“When I stated flexibility is vital, it isn’t like I’m implying ship the opener at No. 7 or open the batting with Hardik Pandya,” Rohit said. “Shikhar [Dhawan] and Rohit have solely opened within the final seven-eight years, [Virat] Kohli has batted solely at three. Youngsters who are available at four-five, it is vital for them to be versatile, batting up and down.
“In the last four-five years if you look, opener has opened, No. 3 has batted at three, KL has batted five, Hardik six, Jadeja seven. Four and five, sometimes if they move up and down, there’s no problem. That much flexibility is important. Our position too when we came in, we batted up and down, I’m talking of that flexibility. It’s not like opener bat at eight and eight opens, we don’t do such mad things. Little bit of flexibility up and down is needed in a team.”