Rohit should play domestic matches to prepare for Test cricket, says childhood coach Dinesh Lad

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu):Rohit Sharma's childhood coach, Dinesh Lad, has suggested that the India captain should play a few domestic games to regain form ahead of the upcoming Test cricket challenges. This advice follows Rohit's disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where India lost the five-match series 3-1 and missed out on a third consecutive spot in the World Test Championship final.

Rohit, who missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child, struggled throughout the series, scoring only 31 runs in five innings. His failure to score more than 10 runs in his next five innings led to him opting for rest in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His performance invited public criticism, and former cricketers and media outlets questioned his leadership abilities.

Dinesh Lad acknowledged that after India's T20 World Cup win, Rohit's priorities shifted towards the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. However, following the series defeat in Australia, Lad suggested that Rohit should focus on domestic cricket to prepare for Test matches. Lad noted, "Rohit has two main goals—winning the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. If he wanted, he could have retired from all formats after the T20 World Cup title, but he only retired from T20s. He's not the only cricketer struggling to score runs; he should play one or two domestic games to prepare."

Lad also emphasized that T20 cricket has changed the mindset of many batters, including Rohit, who is technically sound and had a strong performance against England the previous year. "If we win, people call Rohit the best captain, but when we lose, they question his captaincy," added Lad, who has received the Dronacharya award for coaching.

Following this rough patch in Test cricket, Rohit is now set to focus on the white-ball format, with India preparing for a series against England. The team will host England for five T20Is and three ODIs starting January 22, where Rohit will look to regain his form ahead of the Champions Trophy.