Rohit Sharma scored a mammoth 176 and 127 runs in first and second innings respectively as opener against South Africa in the just-concluded Test match at Vishakhapatnam. The experiment to try Sharma as an opener in Tests has worked wonders.
Now, the main question here is: is Rohit Sharma the perfect opener India for Test cricket?
Here are three reasons why he is the perfect opener:
A senior in international cricket: Sharma has been around in the international circuit for over 12 years now. Neither is he a novice at the international level nor at the Test level and that reflected in the way he carried himself at Vishakhapatnam.
His ability to score hundreds: Rohit has an enormous ability to score daddy hundreds and his three double hundreds in ODI cricket.
His free-flowing style of batting: Rohit Sharma has a gifted ability to pull off glamorous shots effortlessly, dictating the order of play, thereby maintaining the pressure on the opposition bowlers. There is never a dull moment when Sharma is batting as he beautifully blends caution with aggression, meaning the scoreboard will always be moving whenever he is around.
His gifted and sound technique: There is no doubt that Sharma is one of the most gifted, talented and technically-sound batsman India has produced in recent times. His pure and sound technique has always been an integral part of his game throughout his career so far and his ability to deposit balls into the stands without losing his shape is an evidence of his profound technique and temperament.
Only time will tell if indeed Rohit Sharma can exceed his expectations as an opener in Tests or not, but nonetheless, he is a most apt choice on paper for sure!