'It doesn't help you': Discarded Indian Test hero on Rohit Sharma's batting spot after skipper fails again in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
India captain Rohit Sharma continued his lean patch with the bat on Day 4 of the ongoing third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday, December 17. The right-handed batter departed for just 10 runs off 27 balls, comprising two boundaries. The 37-year-old was caught behind by Alex Carey off Pat Cummins’ bowling, leaving the tourists reeling at 74-5.
Rohit has already been dismal with the bat, managing just 142 runs in his previous six innings at a poor average of 11.83, including a solitary half-century. He returned with figures of 3 and 6 in the second Test.
Amid Rohit’s poor run with the bat, Cheteshwar Pujara has pointed out that a change in batting position has led to his current struggles. The 36-year-old told Star Sports (via India Today):
“He has been opening the innings, now he's batting at number 6. That is for the team, but I still feel that when you are so much used to opening the innings and when you have to wait, then you put yourself in that doubt. I mean, it doesn't help you when you're opening innings and you suddenly start batting at number 6. So that you don't get that momentum either.”
Pujara further believed that Rohit should have defended the delivery instead of poking outside the off stump. During the same interaction, he said:
“It wasn't a length where you can drive. We have seen that even a fuller length ball, it's hard to drive. He, kind of tried to punch that ball. He should have defended that ball, allowed the ball to come to him rather than going for that ball. And I think the tough part is he hasn't been, amongst runs, and, that's where the pressure is.”
Earlier, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and erstwhile head coach Ravi Shastri suggested Rohit Sharma return to his opening spot owing to his naturally aggressive game.
Rohit Sharma and Co. need 65 more runs to avoid follow-on
A fighting batting display from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja helped India stay on course to avoid a follow-on in the third Test on Day 4. Rahul scored 84 before Steve Smith took a stunning catch to end his vigil. Meanwhile, Jadeja is unbeaten on 52.
At the time of writing, Rohit Sharma and the boys were 180/6, with Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy at the crease. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have bagged two wickets apiece for Australia.
Batting first, Australia posted 445, thanks to centuries from Travis Head (152) and Steve Smith (101). Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball for India, picking up six wickets, while Mohammed Siraj scalped two.
Follow the IND vs AUS 3rd Test live score and updates here.