“More involved, and a little more animated” – Former India coach’s advice to Rohit Sharma after India lose 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has advised skipper Rohit Sharma to be more involved in the game after the visitors lost the Adelaide Test by 10 wickets on Sunday, December 8. Shastri pointed out that Rohit lacked proper body language as a skipper and a player.
Notably, India won the previous two tours of Australia under Shastri’s coaching. While Virat Kohli was an aggressive captain, Ajinkya Rahane was the opposite during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours, respectively.
With the bat, Rohit returned with scores of three and six in his two outings. He previously managed just 133 runs in his last five Tests, including a lone fifty. As a skipper, this was his fourth consecutive loss after a 0-3 drubbing by New Zealand at home.
Ravi Shastri told broadcasters (via India Today):
"Just wanted to see him more involved, and a little more animated. You still have to believe that you can bounce back in this series. You have seen with these two teams, that the counter-punch is almost immediate. It’s happened over the last 10 years. You lose one, you win the next, but you have to have the belief."
Shastri reiterated that Rohit should have opened the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal despite KL Rahul’s heroics in the series opener.
“That’s the reason I want him at the top [as opener]. That’s where he can be aggressive and expressive. Just thought he was a little too subdued, just seeing his body language. The fact that he didn’t make runs, I don’t think there was enough on the field there,” he added.
Shastri added that India should learn from Pat Cummins-led Australia on how to bounce back in the five-game series:
"I like the choice of words by Pat Cummins in Perth. He said we weren’t good enough, but we weren’t as bad as the scoreboard showed. The reason I say good choice of words is because it wasn’t about what people said or what was written about, it was about what the scoreboard showed. I think India can take a leaf out of that.”
Notably, Australia had lost the first Test by 295 runs in Perth. Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah had led the tourists in Rohit Sharma's absence (paternity leave).
“Do a little bit of exercise” – Sunil Gavaskar on Rohit Sharma
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar suggested Rohit Sharma to warm up before walking out to bat. He stressed that the 37-year-old didn’t use his feet properly in both the innings. The cricketer-turned-commentator said (via Hindustan Times):
"I think the feet aren't moving as they should. He needs to do a little bit of exercise before coming to the crease and try to get some circulation going in the legs.”
“He has always been a slow starter as far as feet movement is concerned. It's not just a recent problem. The older you get, the more pronounced it becomes,” he added.
Rohit Sharma and Co. next lock horns with Australia in the third Test in Brisbane, starting December 14.