Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that captain Rohit Sharma returning to his role of accumulating runs in the initial stages before accelerating in ODIs before the 2023 World Cup. However, Rohit became the second fastest batter to 10,000 ODI runs in the recent Asia Cup clash against Sri Lanka, and he is also the only batter with three ODI double centuries as well. Meanwhile, Bangar told Star Sports that Rohit should return to become an accumulator before accelerating, which gave him much success for almost seven years as an India opener as well.

“I feel the one of an accumulator (what role should he play?). He is someone who has had phenomenal success as an ODI player. And many times that he has scored his hundred, it’s around the 30th over. All those 3 double hundreds that we speak of and rave of so much, the acceleration came toward the last 10-12 overs where he just toys with the bowling,” said Bangar.

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Despite playing an aggressive role, Rohit Sharma has scored above 50 in four of his last five ODIs, starting from the Nepal match of the Asia Cup to the final game against Australia as well. Moreover, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have formed a strong opening partnership for India in ODIs.

“So a dangerous Rohit Sharma, if he gets to that 35-over mark, then India is assured of a score of around 350. If he sticks to that sort of a template and I know he is trying to do certain other things, maybe take the game away from the bowlers, but he has got a phenomenal, fearless Shubman Gill, he can afford to play the accumulator which will guarantee that India will get a big total,” concluded Sanjay Bangar.