Not until eight hours into play at the Gabba did Rohit Sharma finally manage a smile. His deputy, Jasprit Bumrah, and No. 11 Akash Deep had delivered a commendaable last-wicket stand, defying a tiring Australian pace attack with a damp ball. When Deep sliced Pat Cummins to the boundary, it took India over the follow-on mark of 246, prompting animated celebrations by Virat Kohli, who high-fived head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar before sharing a relieved smile with Rohit. Until that moment, though, the captain had hardly had much to smile about–another disappointing outing being endured.
Rohit, once the dynamic force in limited-overs cricket, now appears a shadow of his former self. The lack of runs has seeped into his captaincy, and on day four of the third Test, he fell for a mere 10 runs off 27 balls, a loose shot outside off-stump reflecting the self-doubt clouding his mind.
This was Rohit’s seventh failure in succession, dating back to the second Test against New Zealand in October, where he had crossed fifty just once in seven Tests. His decision to go down the order to make way for KL Rahul, who scored a solid 84, has not gone well for him. The onus is now at a critical point in his career.
Having missed the Perth win, Rohit felt that with Yashasvi Jaiswal, his side would enjoy a strong combination, especially given the manner in which they complemented each other in the second innings at the Optus Stadium. Critics regarded it as a step backward, but Rohit’s decision to push back into the middle order was a tribute to the cause.
In the pink-ball Test at Adelaide, Rohit faced two excellent deliveries that contributed to his woes. The pressure mounted as India faced a historic home series whitewash, leaving Rohit in need of a significant score to regain his confidence and leadership role in the team.
In Brisbane, Rohit executed his plan well till disaster struck. After a cautious start along with Rahul, he was tempted into a risky drive to a ball outside off-stump, leading to an easy catch for Alex Carey. Rohit’s dejected walk back to the pavilion mirrored Kohli’s disappointment the day prior, highlighting the growing frustration within the Indian camp.
The last three months have seen a sharp decline for Rohit, the player who has been more known for his skill and flair. Despite his impressive record, the lack of runs raises questions about his place in the team. India’s recent performance has been rather underwhelming, with four losses in their last five Tests, the only victory coming under Bumrah’s leadership.
With the series still neck and neck, a lot would depend on Rohit Sharma in the last two Tests at the MCG and SCG. He is under pressure to find his bat again and also to captain with authority. Whatever be the position he occupies-be it opening the innings or playing in the middle order-his performance must be good enough. The Indian cricket setup would be left to ponder further if the performance is otherwise.
