Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has lauded opener Rohit Sharma for scoring another Test century in India’s first innings of the ongoing fifth and final Test against England in Dharamsala on Friday, March 8. Notably, Rohit smashed 103 off 162 as India finished the second day at 473-8, with Kuldeep Yadav (27*) and Jasprit Bumrah (19*) at the crease.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Chopra said about Rohit’s century, “He actually batted very cautiously. It wasn’t that he was set on 50, so he should start from there. He was giving himself time at the start. In fact, when the partnership was 100, Shubman Gill was the dominant partner. He had scored 65 and Rohit had scored only 33.”

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“It’s not important which player scores how many runs. It’s important till where you can take that innings. The most beautiful thing that has happened in Rohit Sharma’s career was when he was made Test opener. We saw the 2.0 batter as soon as he became a Test opener. He has fallen in love with his defense,” the former India opener further added.

Aakash Chopra also added that Rohit Sharma has adopted a slightly more conservative approach since he started to bat at the top of the order in Tests as well. However, Rohit has scored 2552 runs at an excellent average of 50.03 in 32 Tests as an opener as well. He added 1585 runs at a much lower average of 39.62 before he started opening as well.

“He keeps defending calmly when he knows very well that he can hit the ball into the stands while standing at his position and whenever he wants. However, he doesn’t go to that approach very early and doesn’t go as repeatedly as he probably used to earlier. It was just a shift in mindset. The consistency he has got as an opener since then is praiseworthy and it’s necessary for a captain as well. A captain cannot demand respect. You say that you have shown it by doing it and the others can follow in his footsteps,” Rohit Sharma concluded.