India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stated on July 17, 2026, that veteran opener Rohit Sharma is "too good a player to feel pressure" despite his recent struggles in One Day International (ODI) cricket. Kotak's comments followed India's four-wicket defeat to England in the second ODI in Cardiff, where Rohit scored 26 runs from 47 balls.The coach defended the former captain amidst growing speculation about his future in the format and reports suggesting he might not be part of India's plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.[indiatoday+5]
Kotak Backs Rohit Sharma's Class
Sitanshu Kotak emphasized that a player of Rohit Sharma's stature is immune to pressure, even after a couple of low scores. "See, I don't think a big player like Rohit Sharma can have any sort of pressure. He's too good a player to feel that," Kotak told reporters during the post-match press conference.He acknowledged Rohit had not scored many runs in the first two matches of the series but expressed confidence that the experienced opener would soon regain his form.[indiatoday+4]
Kotak also offered a technical explanation for Rohit's subdued performance in the second ODI. He suggested that a "double bounce" on the wicket in Cardiff might have prevented Rohit from playing his characteristic attacking shots.Kotak believed Rohit looked poised to play a good innings before his dismissal.[indiatoday+4]
Recent Form and Future Speculation
Rohit Sharma's recent ODI performances have drawn scrutiny. In the ongoing series against England, he has scored 11 and 26 runs in the first two matches.This challenging period has seen him accumulate 241 runs in eight ODI matches this year, averaging 30.12, with a highest score of 79.Reports from various media outlets have indicated that selectors are considering moving on from Rohit in ODIs, with Sunday's series-deciding match at Lord's potentially being his final appearance in national team colors in the format.[youtube+7]
Despite the current dip, Rohit Sharma boasts an illustrious career, particularly in white-ball cricket. He has been a pivotal figure in India's success, leading the team to victory in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.As an opener, he holds the record for the most double centuries in ODI history with three, and was the highest run-scorer in the 2019 ODI World Cup with 648 runs in nine matches.His aggressive batting style is credited with transforming India's approach to white-ball cricket.[royalstagfan+8]
Sitanshu Kotak's Coaching Role
Sitanshu Kotak joined the Indian team as batting coach in January 2025, becoming part of the coaching group led by Head Coach Gautam Gambhir.Kotak, a former prolific left-handed batsman for Saurashtra in domestic cricket, amassed over 8,000 runs in 130 first-class matches.After retiring as a player in 2013, he transitioned into coaching, leading Saurashtra to the 2020 Ranji Trophy title.He also served as the head coach for the India A team and at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, working with many Indian players.His appointment to the senior team followed a difficult tour of Australia for India.[outlookindia+13]
The third and final ODI of the series against England is scheduled for July 19 at Lord's.The match will determine the series winner and will be closely watched for Rohit Sharma's performance, as he aims to silence critics and reaffirm his position in India's ODI setup.[youtube+3]
