Kohli, Shastri ensured my second birth in Tests: Rohit Sharma expresses gratitude for red-ball resurgence

Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed his gratitude to Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri for revamping his Test career by promoting him as an openerin late 2019. During the Kohli-Shastri era, the former captain and head coach insisted Rohit try his hand as an opener (following his tremendous white-ball success). The move paid dividends as it has revived Hitman's red-ball career. Till 2018, the right-hander played only 27 Tests and amassed 1,585 runs with three hundreds and 10 fifties. He wasn't even a regular in the Test line-up, but it all changed since his elevation at the top. Since becoming a permanent opener, Rohit has added 2,594 runs to his overall tally, including nine centuries and seven half-centuries.

'It felt like a second birth in Test cricket. I knew I had to grab this opportunity'

Speaking on Jatin Sapru's YouTube channel, Rohitacknowledged the impact of Kohli-Shastri and said, "In the second innings, I was very grateful to Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli for giving me the opportunity to bat up the order. It wasn’t an easy decision to promote me in Tests. They trusted me. They asked me to play one practice match, which I did. I got out on the very first ball, but I realized that I didn’t have any other choice. It felt like a second birth in Test cricket. I knew I had to grab this opportunity, whether it meant opening, batting at No. 5 or 6, or even lower down the order."

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Rohit further opined, "My response to them (Kohli and Shastri) was clear: I’ll play my natural game and won’t take the pressure of trying to survive. I’m going to play freely. If the ball is there, whether it’s the first ball of the Test or not, I’m going to hit it. They gave me the freedom to do what I wanted." He added, "Ravi Bhai was very eager for me to open in Tests for a long time. He told me in 2015 that I should consider it as an option. He wanted me to open, but the decision wasn’t in my hands."

India whitewash Bangladesh

On Tuesday (Oct 1), Rohit-led India beat Bangladesh by seven wickets to win the second and final Test in Kanpur, inflicting a 2-0 whitewash. Rohit was hailed for his aggressive captaincy as he pushed his side to go for a win despite the second and third day's play being washed out due to rain and wet outfield. Put in to bat first, Bangladesh ended a rain-marred opening day at 107-3. Play finally resumed on Day 4 and India bundled out the Bangla Tigers for 233 with a good bowling show.

In reply, Rohit asked his batters to go aggressive and aim for a lead. He himself started his inning with two big sixes. Riding on Yashasvi Jaiswal's 72 and KL Rahul's 68,India declared at 285-9, scoring more than eight runs an over, to lead by 52 and asked Bangladesh to bat again. At stumps on Day 4, theNajmul Shanto-led visitors were reeling at 26-2 and eventually got dismissed for 146 on the final day, on Tuesday, toset upa paltry 95-run target.

Rohit-led India chased down the target soon after lunch on the final day to win the series 2-0. Hitman's proactive and aggressive captaincy earned hugepraises.