(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] India captain Rohit floundered while playing a pull shot on a short ball in the first Test of the ongoing series against South Africa at the SuperSport Park, Centurion.
Kagiso Rabada tested Rohit with the short ball ploy, inviting the batter to play what is regarded as his favourite shot. The 36-year-old went for a pull, hitting the ball straight to the hands of the fielder at deep fine-leg.
As Rohit has often been dismissed in a similar fashion lately, a barrage of criticism on his shot selection came his way. Amid the scrutiny, India batting coach Vikram Rathour backed the skipper, stating that the pull shot has yielded a lot of runs for Rohit in the past.
“Rohit, I mean, I have spoken about it earlier as well. This is the shot he believes in, this is the shot he scores a lot of runs with. This is his shot. So, he is going to play this shot,” Rathour said as quoted in the press conference.
“Some days, it will come off. Some days, it won’t. So today, it didn’t. We can talk about it. On another day, he will hit for a six and everybody will say this is the shot he plays really well. We have heard people say he is the best puller in the world. He believes in it. We are okay, as a team management we are backing it,” he added.
At the end of first day’s play, India’s score reads 208/8 with KL Rahul batting on 70 runs. For South Africa, Rabada starred with the ball, bagging a five-wicket haul.