Rohit Sharma backs Ambati Rayudu to deliver during home ODI series against Australia

Sudhir Gupta 00:58 04/02/2019
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Ambati Rayudu.

    India stand-in captain Rohit Sharma said the form shown by Ambati Rayudu in New Zealand is a great sign for the team and expected the middle order batsman to strengthen his position at the number four position in the home series against Australia.

    Rayudu rescued the Indian team from a precarious 18-4 in the fifth ODI in Wellington with a fighting 90 in seaming conditions. His knock helped the visitors post 252 which proved to be a winning total as India secured a 4-1 series win.

    Rayudu ended any debate – for now – about the problematic No4 position with a couple of 40s in the Mount Maunganui ODIs as well.

    Rohit was understandably pleased with Rayudu’s batting.

    “Massive confidence for him to bat in a situation like that when the team is down, 20 for 4, and you’ve got to bail the team out of that situation. He’s played a lot of cricket and used his experience, which is a massive boost for him going forward,” Rohit said after the win on Sunday.

    “He batted and finished off games in Tauranga when we played there, stitched a good partnership with MS [Dhoni] and then Dinesh Karthik. So yeah, he’s looking very good. I just want him to continue. We’ve got five more games against Australia as well, back home, so if he bats the way he batted in this series, it will be good for us.”

    India play two T20s and five ODIs against Australia starting at the end of this month.

    Recommended