For the connoisseurs of the game, the success of Sharma will be solely dependent on his mindset and technique. The question being asked is whether his opening the innings is a long-term solution, or whether he will suffer the fate of Dilip Sardesai and Ashok Mankad, who were forced to open and then didn't get selector's backing when their performances fell short.
Both Sardesai and Mankad were impressive in the middle order in domestic cricket, but when they opened for India, the statistics indicate they played far below their ability. Not only did they have to change their mindset, but they had to adopt a totally different approach while facing a new ball.
The dilemma for them was either to accept to open or be prepared to sit out. Rohit Sharma who missed out on making a Test debut at Nagpur would perhaps be facing a similar dilemma.
Nari Contractor, who was captain for the West Indies tour of 1962, says, "With specialist openers not able to face the West Indian attack, Sardesai had to be asked to open."
But on return, Sardesai was back in the middle order against England and was impressive. Later when he opened, he wasn't successful on the tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Contractor says, "Till the time I was forced to open in my debut Ranji match in which I scored hundred in each innings, I had not opened in any grade of matches. Same was the case with my opening in the Test. When a regular opener wasn't available, I became a Test opener. Once I decided to open, I opened for all the teams. I was the first to pad up in the nets. As an opener you have got to get used to the new ball. You require a different mindset for the longer version of the game. Rohit bats freely in the middle order. But when he decides to open, he will have to control his strokeplay. In limited overs matches, one can get away with risky shots. But in Test matches with slip cordon waiting for the edge, you have to play straight especially when conditions are conducive to fast and swing bowling. In fact the worth of an opening batsman is measured by how he leaves the ball than how he plays shots. Your job is different in that position."
Sudhir Naik, who was a very good opener and is presently the chairman of the Mumbai selection committee, says, "Opening the batting is a specialized job. As an opener, I would face the new ball in the nets. If the national selection committee is keen to make Rohit an opener for Test matches, I will have to discuss with Sandeep Patil and decide about Rohit's batting number for Mumbai. His preparation will have to change."
Joe Root, the new golden boy of English cricket, happily opted to open and did reasonably well. In the past, Ravi Shastri who started off at number 10 for India went on to score a few hundreds as an opener against the genuine quick bowlers of West Indies and Pakistan.
If Rohit is happy opening the innings, he will have to rework his mindset and tighten his technique. And it's crucial that the team management and the selection committee back him.
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