Rohit Sharma (c) of India during the 1st ODI match between India and England held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, India on the 6th February 2025. (Sportzpics)
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak downplayed concerns on skipper Rohit Sharma’s recent lean patch, saying that his ODI form before the England series speaks for itself. “I personally don’t see any issue with his form. In his last three ODIs, Rohit has scored 56, 64, and 35,” Kotak said in the pre-match press conference in Cuttack on Saturday.
“That means he has been averaging over 50 in those matches. We are talking about a player who has 31 ODI centuries. When someone keeps scoring, no one questions when they will fail,” Kotak added.
Rohit has struggled to find his rhythm in recent matches with his dismal performances in the New Zealand and Australia Tests bleeding into the 1st ODI vs England in Nagpur where he lasted just 7 balls and scored 2. Over his last 16 innings across formats, Rohit has accumulated only 166 runs at an average of 10.37, with just one half-century.
“Sometimes, a player might have a lean patch, but that doesn’t worry me. Yes, in the Australia Test match, it was tough, and he got out early, but in ODIs, he has been performing consistently. So, there’s no real concern about his form,” the India batting coach said.
With the Champions Trophy set to begin on February 19 in Dubai and Pakistan, Kotak expressed confidence about their preparation.
“The entire team looks solid. Whether there is any experiment, new players will come to the XI or some senior players will be left out. It’s the head coach and captain who will discuss and they will decide. So, I don’t think I can make any comment on that.”
On Mohammed Shami’s fitness, Kotak reassured that the pacer was “completely fit”. Shami returned to the International cricket in the preceding T20I series after a 14-month injury layoff.
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Asked whether Arshdeep Singh might get a chance, he repeated, “That decision lies with the head coach and captain.” Regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s injury status, he admitted he was unaware of the scan results. “That’s something the physio would know,” he signed off.
(With agency inputs)
