Sunil Gavaskar on Rohit Sharma’s dismissal: Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed concern over Rohit Sharma’s declining reflexes. After his dismissal in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia on Friday, he said that the age of the Indian captain is increasing. Gavaskar highlighted the flaws in the 37-year-old’s footwork, which have become more evident during his struggles in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In the fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit decided to make a comeback in the opening slot, pairing with Yashasvi Jaiswal and replacing KL Rahul at number 3, but it did not yield any results. In India’s first innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rohit faced only 12 balls and became the victim of Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Trying to play a half-pull shot on a short-off-length delivery outside off, Rohit mistimed the shot, which top-edged it to Scott Boland at mid-on. Gavaskar called the shot an unusual miss, which underlined Rohit’s recent struggles against Cummins.
“It’s a shot he usually plays. Half-pull off the front foot. I think maybe he was in two minds about going for the proper pull shot,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports after Rohit’s dismissal. And then like catching practice was trying to tap into it, but that’s what happens when you have a gap, when you are 36, 37 years old and you have a long gap between playing cricket. It happens.”
Cummins has dismissed Rohit seven times in Test cricket so far, thereby establishing himself as a foe. In their encounters, the Australian captain has conceded only 127 runs off 199 balls against Rohit – a clear figure that reflects the Indian captain’s inability to dominate the Australian fast bowlers.
He said, “That’s why you’re seeing maybe not the same footwork that you expect, because that’s what happens to your body as you age. It just reacts a little slower. You know, the brain is there.” The mind tells you everything, but the body doesn’t. So, at 37, there is no problem because you know your batting speed, everything. Gets you very, very careful, very, “One must be very careful.”
Rohit’s early dismissal ended India’s struggling situation, which had proved to be a batting paradise for Australia. KL Rahul also got out after scoring 24 runs on Cummins’ ball. Jaiswal gave a ray of hope by playing a brilliant inning of 82 runs in 118 balls with the help of 11 fours and one six.
Partnering with Kohli, Jaiswal provided stability to India by making a partnership of 102 runs for the third wicket. However, a catastrophic mix-up between the two ended Jaiswal’s innings, with the opener being run out as Kohli hesitated in responding to a risky single.
Kohli, who had started his innings with determination, could not take advantage of the foundation laid by Jaiswal. Once again, he became a victim of his habit of hitting the balls outside the off-stump. While attempting to drive on a wide delivery from Scott Boland, Kohli was caught behind the stumps by Alex Carey, leaving him out for 36.
With Kohli out, just seven balls after Jaiswal was run out, India’s middle order was exposed to Australia’s relentless attack. Nightwatchman Akash Deep failed to stop the storm and was out for a duck to Boland, who ended the day with 2 for 24. India’s score at stumps on the second day was 164/5, still 310 runs behind Australia’s first innings score of 474 runs. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are unbeaten at the crease after scoring six and four runs respectively.
