‘Learn from Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer’: Rohit Sharma’s honest advice to Indian batsmen faltering after defeat

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has advised the team’s batsmen to learn from Shreyas Iyer and Cheteshwar Pujara how to bat on a turner pitch like the Indore pitch. India failed with the bat as the team managed only 272 runs in their two innings in the third Test at Indore, which they lost by 9 wickets. While the Rohit-led side scored 109 in their first innings, they were bundled out for 163 in the second innings, failing to prevent Australia from winning the game.
Rohit said that there was a lot to learn from Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer, who batted in opposite styles to take the team past 150 in the second innings. Pujara mixed caution with aggression while Iyer unsettled the Australian spinners with an all-out attack.

He said, ‘When you are playing on such pitches, you have to play innings like Iyer. “This is how to play cameo,” Rohit said at the press conference.

“On the other hand, you have a Pujara. Pujara is Pujara. He likes to spend time in the middle, he wants to grind it out. It’s his way of doing it. It shouldn’t be the same for everyone.” This is what we talked about. Find your ways (to score). Whether it is number 11 or number 1.

“As long as the job gets done we are happy as a unit. Runs won’t come from everyone.”

Rohit also heaped praise on Nathan Lyon, who took eight wickets in the match-winner in the second innings, saying that he is the best foreign spinner he has faced so far.

“In my opinion Lyon should be at the top. I haven’t played guys like Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) and (Shane) Warne. Amidst the current crop he would be my number one overseas bowler to come and play in India.”

“He has a lot of consistency in his line and length. When someone is bowling with that accuracy, you have to try something different to score runs,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)

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