Since September, Rohit Sharma has only won two of the seven Tests he has led India in. (AP)
Former India chairman of selectors MSK Prasad lambasted Rohit Sharma’s horrendous batting streak has impacted his leadership during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Commentating during Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Prasad observed that Rohit’s timid captaincy also led Australia to have a spotless start to the fourth Test on Thursday. Resuming from their overnight score of 311 for six, Australia eventually finished on 474 with Steve Smith scoring his 11th Test ton against India.
Prasad who was the BCCI chairman of selectors from 2016 to 2020, rued India’s missed opportunities on Day 1 when debutant Sam Konstas needled Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj en route to a match-defining half-century.
“Rohit sharma is a baggage in this team. He disturbed the team selection after the Perth Test”
MSK Prasad is not holding backpic.twitter.com/259z5bYmhU
— ` (@Sohel_VKF) December 27, 2024
“Heading into this series, we had a three-match series against New Zealand. It was pathetic. Never happened in the history of Indian cricket that we lost back-to-back three games, and Rohit was totally sorted out. He had absolutely no runs in that series. And here, he didn’t play the first game. Bumrah led the side very well. So he comes after the backdrop of continuous failures,” Prasad said.
Since leading India to the T20 World Cup win in September, Rohit’s team suffered their first ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka in 27 years before enduring a historic 0-3 home Test series whitewash against New Zealand.
“I feel that it has got a direct impact. If the captain comes into some sort of form, that has a direct impact on the side. And he comes after a series of failures and that has clearly shown in the way he led the side. He has not been proactive on many occasions. If you see, in this Test match itself, he had 11 overs bowled by Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, especially when Sam [Konstas] was going hammer and tongs. That has been the case with his captaincy. He has been struggling with both the captain and his captaincy,” added Prasad.
Batting in reply to Australia’s daunting total on Friday, Rohit opted for a return to the opening slot after playing three innings in Adelaide and Brisbane at No. 6. Rohit was snapped up for three by Pat Cummins, marking his ninth single-digit dismissal since September. The 37-year-old averages a paltry 5.50 with the bat this series, the lowest among all players.
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