Rohit Sharma Tests Fitness in Scorching Perth
Rohit Sharma is central to India's campaign in the World Cup. He is nursing a sore hamstring.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: January 29, 2015 06:10 PM IST
Rohit Sharma is racing against to time to be fit for the World Cup 2015. On a hot day in Perth on Thursday, when the Indian team chose not to train ahead of their must-win tri-nation series match against England, Sharma was put through his paces to test his sore hamstring. Sharma's temporary exit has upset batting calculations for Team India.(Team India Keep an Eye on Rohit's Fitness)
At the WACA, physio Nitin Patel put Sharma through the standard drills - sprints, zig-zags - and the batsman looked exhausted but his hamstring seemed pain free. That should be good news for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is upset with the batting show in the tri-series so far.(Dhoni Stresses on 'Best XI')
It is unlikely that 27-year-old Sharma will displace the out-of-form Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order on Friday. Sharma's presence in the World Cup will be crucial and the fact that India will play a couple of warm-up games, the world record holder - he scored 264 versus Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in November last year -- should get enough time to find his touch back.(Confusing Times for India)
Indian batting seems to be in a confused state of affairs. With Ambati Raydu batting at No. 3 and Virat Kohli 'demoted' to No. 4, Dhoni's gameplan is not very clear. Rayudu's pinch-hitting tactics have not worked for India so far.