Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar added that Rohit Sharma’s defence is a cause for concern after he got out for a nine-ball duck on Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune on Thursday, October 24. However, Manjrekar believes that Rohit’s poor defensive technique, which hurt him at the start of his career, seems to have reappeared.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo following the end of Day 1 in Pune, Manjrekar said, “Yes, the defense is a concern. Temperamentally, this guy is brilliant. He just maybe has to tighten his defense a little more. And I saw that happen in the second innings in the last Test. He looked good, but clearly first innings, when there is a little bit in the pitch that same… We used to talk about Rohit Sharma’s loose defense at the start of his international career. He would not take a step forward and would just react with the bat. That is starting to happen [again].”

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While talking about Rohit Sharma’s technique, Manjrekar also shared that the opener batted similarly when he scored a lot of runs in England
during the 2021 tour as well. He, however, added that bowlers seem to have found a way to work him over.

“When he had that fantastic series in England, he was doing the same thing. The front pad never goes as much down the pitch as a Virat [Kohli] does. But, he was able to leave balls outside the off stump. I think they have worked out a way to bowl to Rohit Sharma. He was made to play that ball [by Southee]. That happened in the first Test as well. That makes him a little vulnerable when there is a little bit in the pitch and the ball is hard and new,” Sanjay Manjrekar concluded.