Tue Oct 01 19:20:39 UTC 2024: ## Rohit Sharma Credits Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri for Red-Ball Revival
**New Delhi, India** – Indian batsman Rohit Sharma has credited former Test captain Virat Kohli and former head coach Ravi Shastri for playing a pivotal role in reviving his Test career. Speaking on Jatin Sapru’s YouTube channel, Sharma revealed how their encouragement and trust paved the way for his transformation into a prolific Test opener.
Sharma, who made his Test debut in 2013, struggled to find consistency in the longer format for years. However, a crucial conversation with Kohli and Shastri in 2019 led to a change in approach.
“They asked me to play one practice match, which I did,” Sharma said. “I got out on the very first ball, but I realized that I didn’t have any other choice. It felt like a second birth in Test cricket. I knew I had to grab this opportunity.”
Sharma’s aggressive, white-ball style of play, which he was encouraged to carry into Tests, paid off when he was given the chance to open in October 2019. He responded with a sensational knock of 176 against South Africa.
“My response to them was clear: I’ll play my natural game and won’t take the pressure of trying to survive,” he explained. “They gave me the freedom to do what I wanted.”
Interestingly, Shastri had been advocating for Sharma to open in Tests since 2015. The decision to finally give him the opportunity proved to be a turning point. Since becoming India’s Test opener, Sharma has scored 2594 runs in 34 matches, including nine centuries and seven fifties.
“The endorsement from both Kohli and Shastri provided me with the confidence to play my natural game in the longest format,” Sharma said. “My Test career, which once seemed uncertain, has now blossomed.”
The gamble of pushing Rohit up the order has undeniably paid off, demonstrating his versatility and making him a vital part of India’s red-ball squad.
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