If England are looking for a template to bat on turning tracks in India, they will do well to study Rohit Sharma’s knocks against them in 2021. Which balls to defend and which shots to play, Rohit displayed his mastery in the last series here to get 345 runs at an average of 57.50 while most batters struggled.
He proved the difference between the teams with a brilliant 166 in the second Test at Chennai, backing it up with a 66 off 96 balls in a total of 145 in the third Test at Ahmedabad. It was not blind attacking; in the fourth Test he grinded it out for a 49 off 144 balls.
Batting on spiteful turning tracks is an art mastered by few. It can be an unnerving experience. When the spinners impart more revolutions, the ball hisses towards the batter before exploding off the track with fielders circled around him ready to pounce on any error, to gobble up a bat-pad or edge. Trying to survive with dour defending is pointless because some ball will have your name on it. Powerful shots are important to make the stay at the wicket count and shake off the close cordon.
But choice of shots is the key. At the nets on Tuesday, Rohit was pointing out to KS Bharat, batting in the adjacent net, not to get the bat ahead of the pad. He showed him how the ball must be met under the nose, beside the pad and not in front of it.
Then there are subtle points to keep in mind like not committing on the front foot. A rank turner gives the batter no time and Rohit thrives on smashing the ball on the bounce, slog-sweeping full stretch or freeing up his arms for lofted off-side shots. Clean striking is the key.
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