"Rohit as a batter would be personally disappointed" - Ajay Jadeja on Rohit Sharma's performance in IND vs BAN 2024 Test series
Ajay Jadeja reckons Rohit Sharma would be disappointed with his performance as a batter in the two-Test series between India and Bangladesh. He pointed out that the Indian captain might have set an example with his aggressive approach but did not play a substantial knock.
India completed a 2-0 series win against Bangladesh with a seven-wicket victory in the second Test in Kanpur on Tuesday, October 1. Rohit managed only eight runs in the second innings as India chased down a 95-run target in 17.2 overs.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Jadeja was asked about his thoughts on Rohit's performance in the series.
"You can see it two ways. Rohit the batter that we are used to, who we have been seeing for so many years, he is among those who have scored double-centuries, both in ODIs and Tests. There is no doubt that he is a leader in the template we talk about, the three sixes he hit, and then how the innings went," he responded.
"However, I personally consider Rohit Sharma the batter much bigger than this, but those big knocks don't come daily. If we see this series, there is no doubt that he created an impact but Rohit the opener didn't convert any of his innings. So Rohit as a batter would be personally disappointed," the former India captain added.
Jadeja pointed out that the fans would be disappointed as Rohit didn't score even a half-century in the series.
"I hope he is (disappointed) because as a fan you get disappointed when you don't get to see a single 50, 100, 150 or 200 from Rohit Sharma, because this is neither T20 nor ODI. In fact, he scores 200 even in ODIs," he observed.
Rohit aggregated 42 runs at an average of 10.50 in four innings. He smashed an 11-ball 23 in India's first innings of the Kanpur Test and was dismissed for single-digit scores in his other three hits.
"If a guy scores 150 or 200 on a good day, if we start getting happy with 20 on his good day, we are setting our benchmark low" - Ajay Jadeja on Rohit Sharma
In the same discussion, Ajay Jadeja acknowledged that Rohit Sharma would be delighted with the series win against Bangladesh. However, he added that the Indian captain cannot be happy with a solitary cameo from his blade.
"He might be personally disappointed but the outcome that has come for the entire team, he would be extremely happy because of that, there is no doubt about that, and the fans are also happy with that. Captaincy is what you extract from someone. If a guy scores 150 or 200 on a good day, if we start getting happy with 20 on his good day, we are setting our benchmark low," Jadeja said.
Rohit was caught in the slips against seam bowlers in both innings of the first Test in Chennai. While the opener was bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the first innings in Kanpur, he swept the off-spinner straight down the deep square leg fielder's throat in the second essay.