Shastri felt Rohit should shun the defensive mindset.
“The last thing you want is him to be in two minds whether to defend or attack. In his case, it should be an attack. He picks up length quickly, he should take the opposition on at that number.
“Because if he gets away in the first 10-15 minutes, in any way, he’s not got past that 15-20 minutes, half an hour. So why don’t you play a natural game, go and take the attack to the opposition and take it from there?”
Shastri felt it’s the best way for Rohit to get back into form and win games for India, adding that the best No.6 batters in the world are those who have the ability to counter-attack.
“I think that is his best way of not just coming back into form, winning a game for India as well. Because that number is a crucial number. The best No.6s in the world are the guys who know how to have the ability to counter-attack. They read the situation well. Yes, if a lot of wickets have fallen, maybe for a little while. You might have to be circumspect, but the intent has to be far sooner than later. Especially when you have that kind of ability and especially when you open the batting for India and you have all the shots for Australian conditions.”
Rohit had made his Test debut in 2013 at No.6 position, marking the occasion with a century. Shastri backed Rahul to retain the opener’s slot in the fourth Test following his two half-centuries so far in the five-Test series.
