SA vs IND: ‘This is his shot’ - Batting coach Vikram Rathour defends Rohit Sharma for gifting wicket with go-to pull shot

India batting coach Vikram Rathour mentioned that the team management is ready to back Rohit Sharma to play pull shots in Test cricket. Notably, against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, the Indian skipper got out to Kagiso Rabada while playing a pull shot and following which, the 36-year-old has faced a lot of criticism on social media. However, Rathour clarified that the team management isn’t bothered as he added that sometimes the pull shot will come off and sometimes won’t.

Notably, in the fifth over of the match, Rohit decided to pull Rabada’s bouncer but it went straight to Nandre Burger, who was fielding in deep fine-leg. Rathour added that the cricketer has scored a lot of runs by playing that shot and people often call him the best puller in the world and hence, there’s nothing to worry about at the moment.

“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. 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,” Rathour was quoted as saying by India Today.

I don't think Virat needs a lot of practice: Rathour

Ahead of the two-match series against South Africa, Virat Kohli opted out of the intra-squad match and went to London due to a family emergency. He hit 38 runs in the first Test and following which, Rathour mentioned that the cricketer doesn’t need a lot of practice as he bats and trains a lot.

“The stage of his career Virat (Kohli) is, I don't think he needs a lot of practice. He bats a lot and trains a lot. So, if he practiced a few days less, doesn't matter much. We saw, how well he was playing. It didn't seem he was away from red ball cricket for six months. It's a good sign,” Rathour said.