After Pakistan’s recent T20I series defeat against Australia, former wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has drawn comparisons between Rohit Sharma’s adaptive batting methods and the current struggle of Pakistan’s top duo, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

The loss in the T20I series exposed significant concerns for Pakistan’s batting line-up, especially in adapting to the rapidly evolving demands of modern T20 cricket. Australia made history by becoming the first team to secure seven consecutive T20I victories over Pakistan, with the hosts now leading the head-to-head record 14-13.

Latif acknowledged the success of Indian captain Rohit Sharma in adapting his batting methods, especially in the 50-over format. The former Pakistan cricketer praised Rohit’s change in mindset in ODIs, which saw India reach the 2023 World Cup final and transformed himself into a more aggressive and dynamic player.

“Rohit Sharma in ODI cricket was able to adapt very well. He changed the mindset in ODIs and it worked very well. They reached the final in the 2023 World Cup in India. He seemed like a different player,” Latif said in an exclusive interview with Arvind Kalyana Krishnan, as quoted by CricBlog.

“As far as T20Is are concerned, anyone can play like this, but to play like this in ODIs is very difficult. So much credit must go to Rohit Sharma and how he has brought about a change in ODIs for India. changed everything in the entire Indian team. “

However, the former captain also noted that the Indian captain’s aggressive style failed to translate into success in the Test format. During India’s recent Test defeat against New Zealand, Rohit’s aggressive approach backfired. He pointed out that despite having a strong defence, Rohit was dismissed when he attempted a risky cross shot, underscoring the importance of format-specific strategies.

“That same style backfired in Tests and it flopped hugely in Tests. I think he got 50 in one match and was dismissed by just one fast bowler. Although there weren’t many fast bowlers. Even though he had a good defense he got he out while I’m trying to hit a shot, a cross if I’m not mistaken, he said.

Pakistan’s biggest concern during the Australia series was the form of captain Babar Azam, who managed just 47 runs over three T20Is, after a sub-par ODI series in which he scored just 80 runs. Similarly, Mohammad Rizwan’s impact was limited, scoring only 16 runs in his two appearances before being rested for the final match.

Despite leading Pakistan to a historic ODI series win under Rizwan’s leadership, the T20I performance has raised concerns about the team’s ability to adapt to the fast-paced demands of modern T20 cricket. The 56-year-old emphasized that players like Babar and Rizwan can adapt their game but must be careful not to overdo it, which could result in unintended consequences.

“They can change their game, but it will affect many things. Now you have talked about Rohit Sharma, so see, Rohit Sharma wanted to play the same way in Tests; he wanted the aggressive approach. But it flopped His style flopped in Tests and this led to a 3-0 loss against New Zealand, which was unimaginable, so you have to think about how to play each format, he concluded.