The Indian captain averages only 26.39 from 13 Tests in 2024.
Rohit missed the first Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia due to the birth of his second child. He returned to lead the side in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval, but failed to make a mark with the bat.
Sharma moved down the order to retain the successful opening partnership of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, the decision backfired as he managed to score just nine runs across the two innings in Adelaide.
During the rain-marred third Test at the Gabba, Rohit continued to bat at No. 6 and scored only 10 runs in the only innings that he played.
Ahead of the Boxing Day Test at MCG, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has warned Rohit Sharma against the high-risk and aggressive batting approach while facing the world-class Australian bowlers.
"He has got that big game. In South Africa, he had that one innings where it was a small target and they went after the bowling and Rohit Sharma looked really good. But in a Test match in Australia with the kind of bowlers he is contended with, all bowling superbly, it is not easy to take those guys on because his shots are really high-risk shots. He tried that in the home series against New Zealand as well, just to put the bowlers off but got out playing the attacking shot," Manjrekar said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo.
According to Manjrekar, Rohit’s poor batting form stemmed from a lack of confidence and self doubts. He started the year impressively against England in the home series, but has looked out of touch since the home series against Bangladesh in September.
"He is short of confidence with self doubts. And bit of a rude shock when he played in that home series against New Zealand and his defense was getting breached on Indian pitches," Manjrekar stated.
Sanjay Manjrekar believes not focusing on the defensive game is letting Rohit Sharma down lately in Test cricket.
He cited the example of 2021 England tour when Rohit flourished by showcasing his defensive game in alien conditions.
"So for someone, who in 2021 when he had that terrific series in England, and scored a strike rate of 42, which is a bit Pujara-like and the entire series he batted for about 21 hours. This was a new discovery for all of us and now when he has to bring that game back, he just can't find the defensive game. So that's where the problem lies - Just gone to pieces, his defense," Manjrekar remarked.
"I remember commentating on that series ( 2021 England) and kept saying 'this is Pujara-like', the way he was grinding away. And I thought it was the rebirth of Rohit Sharma, the Test cricketer, who got those two centuries in his first two Tests. I also felt this is his true calling, this is what he loves to do - which is playing for time like a typical Mumbai batter," he added.
With the BGT currently tied at 1-1, Rohit Sharma would be keen to step up in the fourth and penultimate Test, starting on December 26 at the iconic MCG.