"It is not easy to take those guys on” - Sanjay Manjrekar slams Rohit Sharma’s high-risk game during BGT 2024-25
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has cautioned skipper Rohit Sharma on the high-risk and aggressive batting approach against the world-class Australian bowlers for the remainder of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rohit has been all at sea thus far in the series, scoring only 19 runs at an average of 6.33 in the two Tests he has played.
After missing the series opener in Perth, the 37-year-old slotted in at No. 6 in the Indian batting order for the second Test in Adelaide to ensure continuity at the top with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, the Indian skipper has found no luck as he continued to slide downward in the red-ball format.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo in the build-up to the all-important Boxing Day Test, Manjrekar urged Rohit to avoid the aggressive approach while batting.
"He has got that big game. In South Africa, he had that one innings where it was a small target and they went after the bowling and Rohit Sharma looked really good. But in a Test match in Australia with the kind of bowlers he is contended with, all bowling superbly, it is not easy to take those guys on because his shots are really high-risk shots. He tried that in the home series against New Zealand as well, just to put the bowlers off but got out playing the attacking shot," Manjrekar said [2:07].
Rohit has been in poor Test form over the past four months, averaging under 12 since the home series against Bangladesh.
The stretch, spanning seven Tests and 13 innings, has seen the veteran batter score only one half-century, with eight single-digit scores.
"He was losing shape" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Rohit Sharma
Sanjay Manjrekar recalled Rohit Sharma losing his balance during his century against Afghanistan in the home T20I series earlier this year, citing that as the possible beginning of his rut.
Rohit had smashed a brilliant 121* off 69 deliveries in that contest in Bengaluru with 11 boundaries and eight maximums, helping India pull off a thrilling win in two Super Overs.
"The other thing I noticed was during the T20I century against Afghanistan ( earlier in the year). I saw for the first time in his entire career as a white-ball batter, when he was playing the big shots, he was losing shape," Manjrekar said in the same discussion [2:38].
He concluded:
"Though the ball was going into the stands, still you never see Rohit Sharma losing shape or balance. And that was starting to happen then so I just believe that has also contributed to his defence and attacking game as well - that sturdiness he has as a foundation to his batting."
With the five-match series against Australia tied at 1-1, India will hope their skipper returns to form in the fourth Test in Melbourne, starting December 26.