Rohit Sharma is a match-winner and teams are scared of him: Ramiz Raja

Rohit Sharma has been in marvellous touch since the day he has started opening in limited-overs cricket. He has been praised by several cricket pundits for his tremendous form in the white-ball cricket and Ramiz Raja is the newest addition to the list. The former Pakistan skipper is known to express his views openly and while praising Rohit, he said that teams are scared of the dashing opener.

Raja was emphasizing on the fact that India will be missing Rohit’s services badly in the limited-overs series on the Australian tour. Notably, India’s vice-captain is struggling with a hamstring injury and he won’t be able to play in the limited-overs leg of the tour Down Under. Though he played in the IPL 2020, BCCI has rested him as a precautionary measure.

“Rohit is a match-winner and teams are scared of him. When teams huddle together before a batsman arrives at the crease as Sharma does it says a lot. Rohit’s absence is a big loss to India,” Ramiz Raja said on the Cricket Baaz Youtube Channel.

The pitches in Australia are no longer what they used to be, says Ramiz Raja

Rohit Sharma will be travelling to Australia before the Test series which starts on December 17 and he is expected to play as per his reputation. He will be having more responsibility as India will be there without their skipper. Virat Kohli will be coming back after the first Test to attend the birth of his first child. However, Raja feels that India is a great side and they have a chance to beat Australia in their own backyard again.

“The pitches in Australia are no longer what they used to be some years back. I mean there is less bounce, sideways movement and they are less venomous. And I think Australia will want to have full five-day Tests against India for viewership figures given their requirements,” Ramiz Raja said.

“I think India has the batting line-up to tame Australia and the Indian bowling has improved a lot and they have a very good attack now and Australia will have this in mind,” he added.

Notably, in 2018-19, India became the only Asian team to beat Australia at home in a Test series. A lot of players were a part of the squad on the last tour as well. Though David Warner and Steve Smith were serving a ban at that time India’s performance was outstanding in all the departments.