RP Singh questions Rohit Sharma’s decision to rest from South Africa T20Is: Don’t think there was a need for a break
India Today
Rohit Sharma won't be taking part in India's upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, starting Thursday, June 9 in New Delhi.
Former fast bowler RP Singh reckoned that there was no need for Rohit Sharma to take a break from India’s upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa. The Nagpur-born Rohit hasn’t had the best times of late as the Mumbai Indians (MI) failed to qualify for the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs for the second season in a row.
Rohit’s own form with the bat was also shambolic as he failed to score a single half-century in the previous edition of the T20 league. Singh reckoned that, being the skipper of the Indian team, Rohit should have taken charge in the series against the Proteas.
“I think he should have played the series. Taking rest or not is his personal thought. It depends on how much fatigue he is experiencing. But I don’t think there was a need for a break. He should have played. It’s a long series and, remember, he is the captain as well,” Singh was quoted as saying in an interview with India TV.
In IPL 2022, Rohit scored 268 runs at an average of 19.14 with a top score of 48. Singh, who played for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers during his heydays, said that Rohit has been indifferent with the willow in recent times.
“In the IPL, Rohit hasn’t scored over 400 runs in the last few seasons. There are many others who have crossed the 400-run mark. His performances have been inconsistent in the tournament but he used to come up with a couple of match-winning knocks.
“So everyone felt the spark in his batting was there. In the shortest format, you need match-winners. Even if they fire in a couple of matches, the team will win those,” he added.
South Africa’s tour of India is set to get underway on Thursday, June 9 with the opening match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
