Team India captain Rohit Sharma billed Sarfaraz Khan as ‘fearless’ in his firs interaction with the media ahead of the two-match India vs Bangladesh 2024 Test series.
Team India captain Rohit Sharma put his weight behind Karnataka batter KL Rahul ahead of the 1st India vs Bangladesh 2024 Test which begins at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday (September 17). Rahul is all set to start in the playing 11 in the 1st Test ahead of Sarfaraz Khan, who replaced the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper in the Test squad vs England earlier this year.
Mumbai batter Sarfaraz, who has scored tons of runs in domestic cricket, made an impressive start in his Test career with three fifties in his first couple of games. Rahul, on the other hand, has had a ‘stop-start’ international career. He made an impressive comeback into the Test side with a century in South Africa and was batting well in his last Test against England in Hyderabad before he got injured.
“There are handful of people in world cricket who had a smooth ride, handful of cricketers had no issues all their life, it was all good. Everyone has an ‘up and down’ career. The best thing to do is to understand yourself, expectations from yourself and what’s needed for the team,” Rohit Sharma said during an interaction with the media in Chennai on Tuesday.
“The kind of quality KL Rahul has, everybody knows. The message to him from our side was we want him to play all the games and bring the best out of him. It’s important to give him a clear message that what he need from him. He was done well since comeback – scored hundred against South Africa. Unfortunately he got injured after Hyderabad, didn’t play afterwards. I hope he continues from where he left in Hyderabad. I don’t see any reason why he can’t flourish in Test cricket,” he added.
Rohit Sharma said, “KL Rahul has got the game to do well in Test cricket, I see no reason he can’t be successful in this format”. pic.twitter.com/tpl6pVA6yH
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 17, 2024
On Rahul’s replacement in the side, Sarfaraz Khan, Rohit said that he is ‘fearless’. “Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel are new to Test cricket. We have seen what we can do with the bat and Jurel with the bat and behind the stumps. They can play all three formats. It all depends on what you think in your mind as well.
“They are very hungry to play cricket for India, there’s hunger for success. Jaiswal had a very good series last time. Jurel got runs under pressure. Sarfaraz Khan is fearless, not worrying too much about what happens outside. You need all sorts of players who are fearless, cautious and responsible as well. We have that mix of everything and it’s a good sign,” Rohit said.
This is also the first time that Rohit Sharma & Co are playing under the new support staff led by head coach Gautam Gambhir with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and bowling coach Morne Morkel.
“I know Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar really well. Against Morne Morkel we have played some really tough cricket. Ryan (ten Doeschate) I hadn’t much chance to interact but whatever I came to know about him, he’s quite understanding. Like I said, I know Gautam Gambhir really well. Everybody has their own styles – Rahul Dravid, Paras Mhambrey, Vikram Rathoure had their own way. I have worked with different coaches, been playing for 17 years now so I know they all have different perspectives and you have to adjust accordingly. We don’t have any issues as such, understanding is quite important and we have that,” Rohit said about the new coaching staff.