India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has downplayed concern over Rohit Sharma’s form ahead of the second ODI against England. The Indian skipper was dismissed after scoring only two runs in the opening game at Nagpur, which India won by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Furthermore, Rohit was not in the best of forms in the red-ball series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia. Rohit could only amass 164 runs in eight Test matches against these three countries. 

Moreover, Rohit returned with scores of 3 and 28 in the Ranji Trophy game against Jammu and Kashmir. However, Kotak said he personally doesn’t think that Rohit has any issues with his batting and feels it is a matter of time before he gets back amongst the runs.

Sitanshu Kotak said in a pre-match press conference, “I personally don’t think there’s any problem. In the last 3 one-dayers Rohit has played, he has scored 58, 64, and 35. The guy has got 31 one-day hundreds. Sometimes whenever there’s a little lean patch, I don’t think I’d be worried or thinking about their form.

“Yes in Tests in Australia it was a tough time. About one-dayers, he’s always been scoring runs so not concerned,” the 52-year-old added.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma was irked by a reporter, who asked him about his poor form in the Australian conditions. 

Rohit had said before the game, “What kind of a question is that? This is a different format, different time. As usual, as cricketers, we know there will be ups and downs and I have faced a lot in my career so this is nothing new to me. We know every day is a fresh day, every series is a fresh series.”

The second ODI between India and England will be played at Cuttack on Sunday.