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Netizens Slam Rohit Sharma’s Clueless Captaincy And Batting In Boxing Day Test
By CricShots - Dec 27, 2024 9:39 am
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Rohit Sharma’s return to the opening slot in the Boxing Day Test turned out to be a forgettable one, as the Indian skipper fell cheaply to Pat Cummins for just 3 runs on Day 2. Rohit’s ongoing struggles with form were on full display, with his dismissal serving as a clear illustration of a player desperately seeking answers. The decision to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, which was thought to possibly reignite his approach, yielded no positive results for Rohit, who has now posted disappointing scores of 3, 6, 10, and 3 in the series.

Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma witnesses another failure

Rohit’s demise came on a short-of-length delivery outside off, one that he attempted to pull awkwardly. The shot was poorly executed, and the mistimed top-edge ballooned toward mid-on, where Scott Boland made an easy catch to send Rohit packing. This latest failure marked another frustrating chapter in Rohit’s battle against Pat Cummins, with the numbers highlighting a persistent issue.

In 13 innings against the Australian pacer, Rohit has faced 199 deliveries, scoring just 127 runs and falling seven times. Former cricketer Ricky Ponting didn’t hold back, critiquing Rohit’s shot selection. “That’s just a lazy, not switched on, not up for the moment type of shot,” Ponting said on Seven Cricket.

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He added, “He’s known as one of the best hookers and pullers of the ball, but that shot was just not there. It’s a shot with no commitment—he wasn’t really looking to be aggressive, just trying to tap it on the head. If you’re going to survive against this Australian attack, you need to make better decisions. If not, they’ll knock you over every time.”

Rohit’s struggles didn’t end with his batting. His leadership and tactical decisions were also under scrutiny. The Indian captain’s choice to bring Washington Sundar into the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, in place of Shubman Gill, raised eyebrows. Rohit’s bowling rotations and match-ups against Australia’s batters also seemed ineffective, with the Indian bowlers failing to maximize their potential during the first two days.

Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri criticized both Rohit and head coach Gautam Gambhir for including two spinners in the playing XI, noting that the lack of trust in the spinners was apparent.

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Meanwhile, Australia’s Steve Smith continued to shine, bringing up a well-crafted century and guiding his team to a dominant first-innings total of 474. Smith’s partnership with Pat Cummins, who made 49 off 63 balls, was particularly damaging. The pair added 112 runs for the seventh wicket, nullifying the advantage India had gained with Jasprit Bumrah’s breakthrough on Day 1. As the game progressed, it was clear that Australia’s control of the match was growing, further compounding India’s frustrations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags Australia vs IndiaBoxing Day TestcaptaincycluelessCriticismnetizens' reactionsRohit SharmaTest cricket

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