"The past is incredible, but the current form is not going in favor of Rohit Sharma" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit's twin failures in BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Aakash Chopra has noted that Rohit Sharma's form is a concern after he endured twin failures in the recently concluded second Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test. He pointed out that the Indian skipper has a prolific past but has struggled in the last few Tests.
India suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide on Sunday, December 8. The visitors failed to reach the 200-run mark in either innings, with Rohit managing a paltry 9 runs in his two hits.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener opined that Rohit's batting form is a bigger concern than his captaincy.
"We didn't lose because of Rohit's captaincy. I have criticized where it was required but you didn't lose because of that reason. You have to score runs in batting, which you didn't do in both innings. As a team, you didn't bat 80 overs. How will you win if you don't do that? However, there is a question about Rohit Sharma's form for sure," he said (4:00).
"Let's start with Bangladesh. It's been 12 innings and he has scored just one fifty. That fifty came in the second innings in Bengaluru. He batted well there, but he has not looked very good here also. The past is incredible, but the current form is not going in favor of Rohit Sharma," Chopra added.
Rohit has amassed 4,279 runs at an average of 41.54 in 113 Test innings. However, he has aggregated 142 runs at an underwhelming average of 11.83 in his last 12 Test innings, with a 52-run knock in India's second innings of the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand being the only half-century in that period.
"His form had nothing to do with his batting order" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit Sharma batting at No. 6
![Rohit Sharma batted at No. 6 to allow KL Rahul to play at the top of the order. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/f4a7b-17337211903428-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that form wasn't the reason behind Rohit Sharma batting at No. 6 in both innings of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
"He came to bat down the order. Generally, when you are going upwards in your career, you go up in the batting order when you are struggling for form slightly. However, when you are on a slight decline, you go downwards in the batting order. Let's be fair, his form had nothing to do with his batting order in this instance. It was to accommodate Rahul at the top," he said (4:45).
However, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that Rohit didn't fare well in the middle order and questioned whether his reflexes are becoming slower.
"The truth is that when he came down the order, he didn't look very good. The incoming ball got him out, and then he missed the outside edge. It's happening very regularly. He is a touch player, an eye-hand coordination player. With such players, as you grow older, sometimes the reflexes become a little slower," Chopra observed.
Chopra opined that the No. 6 position should suit Rohit. provided India get a good start, as he can go and dominate the bowling. However, he added that it will hurt if the Indian skipper doesn't score runs even while batting down the order.