Rohit vs. Karan: Nair’s big statement ahead of the Lord’s final match

New Delhi: The three-match ODI series between India and England is level at 1-1. Ahead of the series decider at Lord’s, former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has stated that Rohit Sharma needs to alter his strategy against pace-bowling all-rounder Sam Curran. He also emphasized that the Indian captain’s strike rate is not a cause for concern.
Speaking ahead of the final ODI, Nayar analyzed Rohit’s batting style in English conditions, the challenge posed by Curran, and the importance of playing according to the demands of the pitch rather than chasing a high scoring rate. He believes the duel between Rohit and Curran could once again determine the tone of India’s innings, given that the left-arm pacer put the opener under pressure in the previous match.
“Rohit Sharma will definitely need to devise a plan to face Sam Curran. In the first ODI, he tried to step out and attack him. In the last match, he played a maiden over against Curran, which was quite unlike Rohit’s usual style of play. So, you will see a change in strategy. He might play deep in the crease or stand outside the off-stump. In the last game, he expected the ball to come in, but it was moving away.
“So, he will certainly have a strategy in place. I don’t know if Sam Curran will trouble him with pace, seam, or swing; he will trouble him by bowling consistently good deliveries. The conditions are offering him some assistance.” “But I think the Lord’s pitch might be better and the boundaries shorter, so it could be easier for Rohit to score runs,” Nair told JioStar.
The former Indian support staff member also noted that when batting in England, it is crucial for players to assess the pitch before worrying about scoring quickly. According to him, patience was required in the second ODI because the seamers were getting assistance from the surface.
“Conditions are the most important factor. You have to respect them; in the second ODI, the ball was seaming and holding up a bit, so the batters had to take their time. Rohit Sharma had to shoulder responsibility, especially since Shubman Gill got out early. There was a moment during Sam Curran’s over when Rohit was under pressure, but overall, his tempo was fine. Joe Root scored at a strike rate of 65-67, which was the required rate on that pitch.” “It was difficult to play big shots due to the extra bounce off a good length. The openers need to provide stability and give the middle order time to score runs later,” he said.
Although questions have been raised about Rohit’s scoring rate during this series, Nair believes the real issue lies elsewhere. He emphasized that despite looking comfortable at the crease, the captain is failing to convert good starts into big scores.
“I’m not too worried about Rohit’s strike rate, but I am concerned that when he reaches 26 or 27, he usually converts it into a fifty. He doesn’t often get out to off-spinners, but that happened in the last match. To me, it’s more about mindset than skill. But he is batting well, so I’m not worried,” he said.
India and England will play the deciding ODI at Lord’s on Sunday, with the visiting team looking to end the tour on a high note following their defeat in the T20I series.