India coach Sitanshu Kotak backs Rohit Sharma after lean run against England

Rohit Sharma (File pic)

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak backed star opener Rohit Sharma despite his poor run with the bat in the ongoing ODI series against England, saying a player of his stature does not feel pressure even if runs have not come in the last two matches.

Speaking at the post-match press conference after India's four-wicket defeat to England in the second ODI, Kotak expressed confidence that Rohit would soon return to form.

"See, I don't feel like a player as big as Rohit can have any pressure. He's too good a player to feel that. Yeah, in two matches, runs haven't come; I don't think that makes any difference. But today also, it looked like he'll probably get a good innings out, but that's okay," Kotak said.

During the current series against the English team, Rohit has registered modest scores of 11 and 26 across the opening two matches. The former Indian captain has had a relatively lean calendar year overall, scoring 241 runs across eight appearances at an average of 30.12, highlighted by a top score of 79.

England beat India to set up the Lord's decider

Coming to the match, England bounced back to defeat India in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, levelling the three-match series 1-1. Chasing a modest target of 234, Joe Root anchored the innings with a match-winning unbeaten 99 off 133 balls and shared a crucial 72-run stand with Will Jacks (30) after England had slumped to 125/5.

Gus Atkinson remained unbeaten on 23 as England reached the target with nearly six overs to spare.

The visitors had initially started strongly with the ball, as spearhead Jasprit Bumrah removed Ben Duckett on the opening delivery of the innings, followed by Prasidh Krishna getting Jacob Bethell shortly after. Gurnoor Brar made an impression by taking two wickets, while Bumrah, Krishna, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel claimed a wicket each.

Earlier in the day, a disciplined English fast-bowling unit successfully stopped the India batters and dismissed the visitors for 233 within 44 overs, despite fighting half-centuries from Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66).

Rohit Sharma scored 26, and Shubman Gill made 31, while Ishan Kishan, replacing the unwell KL Rahul, managed just one. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson starred with three wickets each, while Saqib Mahmood claimed two.

The series will now be decided in the third and final ODI at Lord's on July 19.

(With inputs from ANI)