Calcutta: Indian cricket team's batting coach Sanjay Bangar has urged Rohit Sharma's staunch critics to compare his initial Test career record with "any other cricketer" and be a bit "less harsh" on the stylish right-hander for some of his low scores.
"If you look at the numbers, he has played 13 (actually 14) Test matches and scored 800-900 (870 runs) runs at an average of 40 (actually 37.82) with two centuries, four half-centuries. I think if his critics can go back and compare the first 13 Test matches of any other cricketer who has played for a while, I think they would probably be less harsh on Rohit," Bangar told ESPN Cricinfo.
"I believe that in the matches that he has played so far - obviously everybody wants to contribute more - he has definitely contributed to the team's cause," Bangar added.
The former India all-rounder said that it was Cheteshwar Pujara's poor form that led to Rohit's promotion in the batting order.
"I think we are clear in our mind that we need to give enough time and opportunity to a player if we put him at a particular position before making the change. (Cheteshwar) Pujara was having a tough time, so he (Rohit) was given a fair run at No. 3. He batted very well in Sydney. He got starts in both the innings (53 & 39) but could not convert it into a big one.
"After those five opportunities, we felt that moving him down the order would benefit the team more. And it also made sure that he got some time because he also had put a lot of pressure on himself to perform.
"Somebody who constantly wants to contribute to the team's cause. And it worked out beautifully. In both the Test matches (P. Sara and SSC), he played vital innings for the team," the batting coach said.
Bangar, however, praised Pujara's "hunger and temperament".
"Pujara has tremendous hunger, tremendous temperament. Again somebody who had a dip in his career but who is right up there. Obviously, there are going to be players who are going to miss out because of injuries but every new player who has come in has scored runs."
While making the right noise about the position of India's batting coach being "massive privilege", Bangar did not forget to mention that he would be happy to get a "long-term contract".
"It's a massive privilege to be able to discharge the duties of batting coach of the Indian team. Ideally, a longer stint is better for the individual concerned but again even if it's just for a series, it's a huge opportunity and accomplishment."
With the new Test captain Virat Kohli stressing on playing five bowlers, Pujara has had to sit out. But Bangar was delighted with the way Pujara played a match-winning innings as a stop-gap opener in India's series-decider at the SSC.
Pujara appears to get bogged down, especially at the start of his innings. His inability to take singles consistently tends to put pressure on the batsman at the other end. Bangar, however, didn't single him out for failing to rotate strike.
The assistant coach maintained that strike-rotation is an important aspect that every batsman needs to be aware of.
"Strike rotation is something we are all making our batsmen (aware) of. We are working on it. It is not only for one individual batsman but it is for the entire batting group.
"How you can achieve it is you need to know the fields, you need to know the bowling plans, you need to play with softer hands closer to the body. That is an awareness the batting group is working on and there has been a marked improvement in that area."
