[Watch] Rohit Sharma throws his wicket away despite returning as opener on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma's return to the opening spot hardly made a difference as he perished for another single-figure score on day two of the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The right-handed batter almost played a nothing shot as his opposite number Pat Cummins struck with the new ball.
The dismissal occurred in the second over of the innings as the Aussie captain decided to take the new ball. With Cummins delivering a back-of-a-length delivery, Rohit went for a half-hearted pull that hardly traveled the distance. Scott Boland took a simple catch on the on-side as Australia celebrated their first breakthrough.
Rohit didn't play in the opening Test of the series in Perth due to paternity leave, causing Jasprit Bumrah to captain the side. India, nevertheless, won the game comprehensively by 295 runs, taking a 1-0 series lead. With Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul doing well in the second innings in Perth, the Indian captain decided to bat at number six in Adelaide and Brisbane but returned with scores of 3, 6 and 10 in the three innings he batted.
Australian batters make hay before Pat Cummins removes Rohit Sharma
Meanwhile, the Australians produced their best batting performance of the series thus far. Their top four- Sam Konstas (60), Usman Khawaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72), and Steve Smith (140) all found themselves among the runs, unlike the first three Tests. After Cummins won the toss, the opening pair of Konstas and Khawaja stitched an 89-run stand to set things in motion.
Australia resumed Day 2 at 311/6 and hammered 143 runs in the opening session with the loss of only one wicket as Cummins fell to Ravindra Jadeja for 49. Nevertheless, Smith carried on to score his 34th Test hundred and his 11th against India to help Australia post 474.