Legendary India opener sunil Gavaskar tells Sharma to score big tons and aim to play test cricket for long

Gavaskar tells Rohit Sharma to score big runs in Test cricket

Legendary India opener Sunil Gavaskar tells Sharma to score big tons and aim to play test cricket for longu00a0

Rohit Sharma in action during Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against UP earlier this season. pic/Suresh KK

Making a debut against one of the finest attacks in the world, South Africa, can be quite an unnerving experience for any youngster, but Sharma is quietly confident that if given a chance, he would prove himself.

His confidence stems following a stamp of approval from one of the greatest openers ever u2014 Sunil Gavaskar.

He got a call from Gavaskar after his triple century (309 not out) against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy earlier this season.

Big scores
"He told me, 'I want more big scores from you. You should aim to play Test cricket for long'," Sharma told MiD DAY yesterday.

"It was very inspiring. When somebody like him talks to you, it does a world of good to your confidence," said Sharma.

Though India will finalise the playing XI today, the signals have been positive for Sharma from the team management. He was among the first to bat in yesterday's net session. Laxman who sustained the injury while fielding during the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong last month, still has a bandage around his injury.

The Indian stalwart skipped the team's fielding practice yesterday, but did have a long batting session in the nets. A team management source told MiD DAY that Sharma had a 50-50 chance of playing.

This is the first time Sharma is part of the Test squad since the 2008 visit to Sri Lanka. He managed just 20 as captain of the Indian Board President's XI in the tour game against the South Africans, but has been in fine form during this season. He scored 527 runs in Ranji Trophy at an average of 87.83. "I had a good season and am feeling quite good about my form," said Sharma, who is keeping his fingers crossed about making his debut.

"I don't want to think too much about it. But if I get a chance, I will look to do well. Obviously, playing Test cricket is every cricketer's ultimate dream," he said.

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