'We Have Heard People Say He is Best Puller in World': Batting Coach Defends Rohit Sharma After Cheap Dismissal vs SA

Rohit Sharma was in the spotlight after the Indian skipper was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada while playing his trademark shot in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

The former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar had earlier pointed out that his infamous shot was his biggest downside in the longest format. Manjrekar spoke to Star Sports where he said, “It’s interesting that his go-to shot, the one shot that he plays in white-ball cricket that puts the opposition on the back foot, has been Rohit Sharma’s nemesis in test cricket. In the last two years, he’s been out seven times playing the pull shot. But the bowler deserves this as it was a great delivery.”

READ MORE: ‘Go-to Shot in White-ball Cricket Has Been Rohit Sharma’s Nemesis in Test’: Sanjay Manjrekar

However, the Indian batting coach, Vikram Rathour does not agree with the same viewpoint as Manjrekar. He and the team management have fully backed him to play his trademark shot. Rathour said,” 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.”

The coach also added,” 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”

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Rohit has been in stellar form, especially during the recently concluded World Cup where he scored just under 600 runs to become the second-highest run-scorer in the 2023 World Cup edition behind Virat Kohli.

He has also had a good run of form in the red-ball format where he scored a century and two fifties in the two-match series against the West Indies as well.

Rohit Sharma will be eyeing to score the big runs for India as they aim to break South Africa’s dominance at home over the Indian side as the Proteas are yet to be defeated at home by India in a Test series.