Wasim Jaffer expects Rohit Sharma to deliver overseas: The former Indian batsman believes that it is only a matter of time for senior batsman to deliver overseas.
Advertisement
Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer has praised current opening batsman Rohit Sharma’s stellar performance against South Africa at home last year. Opening the batting for the first time in Tests, Sharma scored 529 runs in three matches at an average of 132.25 and a strike rate of 77.45 including three centuries.
“Rohit [Sharma] has a double hundred and twin centuries versus South Africa. It is not easy though it came at home,” Jaffer was quoted as saying by Times Now.
ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma thanks team management for letting him open in Tests
“People often disregard the runs scored at home but you have to see he played against a very experienced South African bowling attack, comprising Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander in 2019,” Jaffer added.
Wasim Jaffer expects Rohit Sharma to deliver overseas
Sharma, who seemed to have cemented his spot at the top of the order in Tests as well, missed the Test series in New Zealand due to an injury. Being asked about Sharma’s Test performance in SENA countries, Jaffer believed surviving the first hour remains the only challenge for the 33-year old player.
“Yes, it is never a given that a big player of limited-overs will succeed in Tests as well. However, he has done well in whites for a smaller period. Don’t get me wrong. The only question that remains in people’s minds is how he will do in SENA countries. In my view, I feel the only challenge for him is to survive the first hour. That’s it,” Jaffer said.
Jaffer, who retired from all formats after more than a two-decade long First-class career earlier this year, acknowledged that Sharma’s experience of playing limited-over matches around the world would aid him in building his Test innings abroad.
“Rohit now understands his game very well. He is a very mature player. He knows how to play the situation and how to play out the more-skilled bowlers.
“When he travels overseas, in England or Australia, he knows the conditions now as he has played a lot of ODIs and T20Is there. It is only a difference of formats. Still, he knows how to make big hundreds,” Jaffer further said.
Before concluding, the 42-year old laid emphasis on Sharma negating the challenge with the new ball while playing overseas and that delivering in overseas Tests being a “matter of time” for him.
“The challenge for him will only be to negate the first 15-20 overs or play out the first session. From thereon, we all know how lethal or dangerous he can be. He has scored in India. Only a matter of time when he delivers overseas,” Jaffer concluded.
