"Rohit didn't use to play like this" - Aakash Chopra questions Rohit Sharma's approach against New Zealand and Bangladesh
Aakash Chopra has questioned Rohit Sharma's batting approach in India's last two Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He noted that the Indian skipper didn't have an ultra-aggressive approach when he was successful in Test cricket.
Rohit aggregated 91 runs at a paltry average of 15.17 in six innings in India's 0-3 loss in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. The opener managed 42 runs at a dismal average of 10.50 in four knocks in the previous series against Bangladesh.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that Rohit's numbers in the last two home Test series are worrying.
"If you see this home season, Rohit Sharma scored one half-century in 10 innings and had an average of 13. Sometimes you pay a price for your success if you are compared with your lofty standards. If the average had been 37-38, you might have said that his standard is 55, but 37-38 is not too bad, but we are saying bad because the standard is so high," he said (0:20).
"However, an average of 13, from whichever vantage point you might see, these numbers are worrying, and in that, the number of times he got out to fast bowlers, and the way he got out, there is a question mark. The my way or the highway we talk about, Rohit didn't use to play like this," Chopra added.
Rohit Sharma fell prey to seamers in four of his six innings against New Zealand. Tim Southee and Matt Henry dismissed him twice apiece.
"Rohit Sharma's new chapter of Test cricket had started because he started loving his defense" - Aakash Chopra
![Rohit Sharma enjoyed great success as an opener even in English conditions. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/1d9b1-17307881703570-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Rohit Sharma was willing to trust his defense and leave deliveries in Test cricket earlier.
"Rohit Sharma's new chapter of Test cricket had started because he started loving his defense. He had started liking leaving deliveries. Spending time became a thing for Rohit but now it seems like he won't do that at all. This started with the ODI World Cup. There also the question was whether you were selling yourself short if you were scoring 45 or 55 when you could score 150," he said.
The renowned commentator added that cameos might work in white-ball cricket but not in the longest format.
"It's okay, it was white-ball cricket, others score. It is absolutely fine in T20 cricket as others will score once you set the tempo. However, not in Test cricket. You played well against England, you scored 400 runs, which was a decent turnover. That happened because he wasn't hitting every ball," Chopra observed.
Chopra pointed out that Rohit has looked a very different player against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He added that it's worrying if fast bowlers dismissed him like that in Indian conditions, especially considering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is around the corner.