"This line has consistently been bowled to him since 2022" - Harbhajan Singh on Rohit Sharma failing again on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Harbhajan Singh reckons Rohit Sharma would be disappointed with the mode of his dismissal in India's second innings of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He pointed out that the Indian skipper has been targeted with similar lines in the last few years.
Rohit scored six runs off 15 deliveries as India were reduced to 128/5 in their second innings in Adelaide on Saturday, December 7. They still trail Australia by 29 runs, with Rishabh Pant (28*) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (15*) the unbeaten batters at the crease.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Harbhajan noted that Rohit has frequently been dismissed similarly in the last three years.
"He will definitely be disappointed with his dismissal but I don't think he played a bad shot. He got out while defending. This line has consistently been bowled to him since 2022. He has been bowled to on the stump line. He makes slight mistakes there, as we have seen him getting lbw or bowled quite often when the ball comes in," he said.
The former India spinner added that Rohit needs to return to run-scoring ways as it could otherwise adversely impact his captaincy.
"I feel Rohit Sharma will work on this area before the next three matches and I hope that runs come from his bat because a captain can only captain well when he has scored individual runs. It rarely happens that a captain captains well when he is not scoring runs. So you want Rohit Sharma to lead from the front," Harbhajan observed.
Rohit managed 91 runs at a dismal average of 15.17 in six innings in India's 0-3 loss in the recent home Test series against New Zealand. The Indian captain admitted that he wasn't at his best both as a batter and leader in that series.
"Rohit Sharma wasn't coming with good form" - Harbhajan Singh
![Rohit Sharma was lbw for thee in India's first innings. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/50616-17335817318743-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Harbhajan Singh noted that Rohit Sharma wasn't in good form coming into the Adelaide Test, which is being played in seamer-friendly conditions.
"It wasn't easy for anyone to bat in these conditions in the night session. Rohit Sharma wasn't coming with good form. The good thing was that he was playing in the middle order. It's comparatively much better to play in the middle order than to open in these conditions," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Rohit's problems were compounded because of the excellent ball he received.
"However, he is not in form and then if you get such conditions, I would say he got a good ball. He got beaten all ends up. He played inside the line and the ball deviated as much was required to hit the off-stump," Harbhajan observed.
Rohit walked out to bat when India were reduced to 86/4 in their second innings. He was castled by a Pat Cummins delivery that moved slightly away after pitching and hit the top of the off-stump.