Indian batting coach prefers Rohit Sharma over Cheteshwar Pujara

Rohit Sharma during Sri Lanka Test series

Indian cricket team batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that critics are wrong when they analyse Rohit Sharma's contribution to team India, reports ESPNcricinfo. In fact, he has hit back at the critics saying the Mumbai's batsman has definitely contributed to Indian team's cause.

"If you look at the numbers, he has played 13 [14] Test matches and scored 800-900 [870] runs at an average of 40 [37.82] with two centuries, four half-centuries. I think if his critics can go back and compare the first 13 Test matches of any other cricketer who has played for a while, I think they would probably be less harsh on Rohit," Bangar said.

He added: "I believe that in the matches he has played so far - obviously everybody wants to contribute more - he has definitely contributed to the team's cause."

Bangar also praised Cheteshwar Pujara but backed the decision to prefer Rohit over him. He stated it clearly that Pujara was having tough time in Australia and he needed and that's the reason why Rohit was picked instead of him.

The former Indian player also said that Rohit has batted well in Australia and Sri Lanka especially his important knocks on the Lankan soil really helped the Indian team.

"We are clear in our mind that we need to give enough time and opportunity for a player if we put him at a particular position before making the change. Pujara was having a tough time, so he [Rohit] was given a fair run at No. 3. He batted very well in Sydney (53 & 39). He got starts in both the innings but could not convert it into a big one.

"Bangladesh was just one innings. But you could see that just three innings prior to P Sara (second Test against Sri Lanka), he was scoring runs at No. 3. After those five opportunities, we felt that moving him down the order would benefit the team more.

And it also made sure that he got some time because he also had put a lot of pressure on himself to perform. Somebody who constantly wants to contribute to the team's cause. And it worked out beautifully. In both the Test matches (P Sara and SSC), he played vital innings for the team." he concluded.