Rohit Sharma explains why he opted for aggressive, less-defensive opening approach against New Zealand- The Week

Rohit Sharma couldn’t make 100 runs from six innings against New Zealand at home but the Indian Test captain claimed that he has not lost faith in his defensive skills. As an opener, he decided to take a risky, aggressive approach against the Kiwis because his style of batting was more of a self-chosen “evolution process”.

Rohit Sharma (91) and Virat Kohli (93) managed less than 200 runs across three Tests, a major reason for India’s struggle as New Zealand managed a rare and on-sided 0-3 whitewash.

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“I haven’t defended a lot in this series because I haven’t been there to defend. Clearly, I have to look at my own game and try and see what best I can do. When I go to bat, I always think how I can put the team in the best situation of the game,” Rohit Sharma said.

“When the openers go in, they set the tone and sometimes you can fall on the other side of it as well. This series, I have fallen on the other side of it. But I don’t see that I have lost faith in my defence.”

He also admitted that the disastrous performance of star batters is certainly a cause of concern for India.

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“I accept that I haven’t batted well in this series. But it’s been only these two series where I have not had enough time in the middle… As you grow you try and evolve and I am trying to evolve as a batter as well to try and see what else I can do. I will re-look at my game and see what best I can do,” the Indian skipper said.

India have already been displaced from the top of the World Test Championship table following the embarrassing result at home. Rohit, however, preferred to look only at the immediate challenge of the Australia tour (Border-Gavaskar Trophy). Rohit said it is important for him and Kohli to address what has not worked for them.

“Those mistakes need to be addressed and something that we will talk about,” he said.