"Won't even for a second think that it is form" - Dinesh Karthik after Rohit Sharma's dismissal on Day 1 of IND vs NZ 2024 3rd Test
Former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik reckons Rohit Sharma's low Test scores are not down to poor form. Instead, the retired cricketer observed that the skipper was rapidly picking the length and playing some good shots.
Rohit hasn't had the desired run in this home Test season thus far. With only one half-century, several questions have been raised over his ability to bat in the upcoming tour of Australia.
Karthik told Cricbuzz about Rohit:
"I won't even for a second think that it is form. And I am saying that because of the shots that he is playing when he is lasting at the crease. When you are not in form, you cannot play the shots that he is playing. Backfoot punches off a good ball, a slight error in length and he is hitting a cover drive. So he is getting into good positions."
Day 1 of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai saw the veteran batter get dismissed for a run-a-ball 18 as the extra bounce from Matt Henry did the trick. The bounce from the right-arm seamer caught Rohit's bat and went to Tom Latham at slip.
"It is his choice of shots" - Dinesh Karthik
Karthik observed that he was perplexed by Rohit's choice of shot during his dismissal as he closed the bat face when the ball was on the fourth stump.
He elaborated in the same discussion:
"What is happening between the ears and that is something that Rohit can only help himself. As we all know he is a world-class player, and the tempo that he plays is phenomenal. It is his choice of shots."
"The ball was on the fourth stump, he ended up closing the face on it. And that is something that needs to be thought about because there were better shots on offer. Team India have had a very plain series with the ball and bat, not a good series and they are way better than that," Karthik added.
The hosts bowled the Kiwis out for 235 on Day 1 after the visitors won the toss as Ravindra Jadeja took a fifer.
India were strongly placed at 78/1 when the close of play was near but lost three wickets to slump to 84/4.