"The defense is a concern" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Rohit Sharma's 9-ball duck on Day 1 of IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar opined that Rohit Sharma's defense is a cause for concern after he was knocked over for a nine-ball duck on Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune on Thursday, October 24. Manjrekar believes that Rohit's poor defensive technique, which hurt him at the start of his career, seems to be making a reappearance.
The Indian captain was cleaned up Tim Southee on Day 1 of the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The Kiwi pacer pitched one on a good length and got the ball to seam away, squaring up Rohit.
During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo following the end of Day 1 in Pune, Manjrekar agreed that the Indian captain's defensive technique is being put to test and that the right-hander needs to find answers for the same.
"Yes, the defense is a concern. Temperamentally, this guy is brilliant. He just maybe has to tighten his defense a little more. And I saw that happen in the second innings in the last Test," Manjrekar said.
"He looked good, but clearly first innings, when there is a little bit in the pitch that same... We used to talk about Rohit Sharma's loose defense at the start of his international career. He would not take a step forward and would just react with the bat. That is starting to happen [again]," the 59-year-old went on to add.
While elaborating on Rohit's technique, Manjrekar elaborated that the opener batted in similar fashion when he scored a lot of runs in England during the 2021 tour. He, however, opined that bowlers seem to have found a way to work him over. Manjrekar explained:
"When he had that fantastic series in England, he was doing the same thing. The front pad never goes as much down the pitch as a Virat [Kohli] does. But, he was able to leave balls outside the off stump. I think they have worked out a way to bowl to Rohit Sharma. He was made to play that ball [by Southee].
"That happened in the first Test as well. That makes him a little vulnerable when there is a little bit in the pitch and the ball is hard and new," the former India batter concluded.
Despite Rohit's early dismissal, India are in ascendency in the Pune Test. They bowled out New Zealand for 259 as Washington Sundar claimed 7-59. In response, India were 16-1 at stumps.
Rohit Sharma's record in Test cricket in 2024
Looking at the Indian captain's record in Test cricket this year, he has featured in 18 innings so far and has scored 551 runs at an average of 32.41, with two hundreds and two fifties.
Since his hundred against England in Dharamsala in March, he has registered scores of 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52 and 0.