India’s opening batsman Rohit Sharma was set in a good tone and was looking to put up a big score on the board after Australia's 369 in their first essay on Saturday (January 16) but one poor shot and he easily gifted his wicket to Nathan Lyon on Day 2 of the Brisbane Test.
Despite losing his opener partner Shubman Gill for 7, Rohit looked in solid touch and unfazed while facing Australia’s aggressive bowling attack, as he was seen dominating the pace attack but a loose shot against the ace off-spinner Nathan Lyon costed him his wicket on Saturday in the ongoing final Test at The Gabba.
With a fielder waiting in the deep for a mistimed shot, the right-hander hit a flighted delivery off Lyon and it landed at the mid-wicket region, as Mitchell Starc took a good catch to remove the well-set Rohit for 44 off 74 balls, including 6 fours.
He failed to capitalize on his good start properly and threw his wicket when India was still trailing Australia's total by 309 runs at The Gabba - which left the Indian cricket fraternity and fans angry at the opener, criticizing him for his poor shot selection against Lyon.
Well now, former England cricketer Nick Knight also reacted to the same, saying Rohit has both skill and ability to do well in overseas Tests but he needs to control his aggressive instinct until he gets a big hundred and boosts his confidence before playing such aggressive shots.
Knight said during the post-day show on Sony Six: “Numbers are extraordinary. It's not due to lack of talent or ability or skill. Sometimes when you see a player of immense ability in Test cricket, it's realizing moments in the game. So when Rohit is on top of his game and confident and scoring runs in unfamiliar conditions, I would say he would pull out of that (shot) or play for one by knocking it. But because he is uncomfortable, he is out of comfort zone, he hasn't had success away from home in Test match cricket.”
The Englishman further explained, “He is still trying to find a way. His natural way is to be aggressive. But sometimes, for him to be really really good in Test match cricket away from home, he might just have to rein that in. 'Okay Till I get that big hundred, till I get that confidence away from home, I may just have to go back to the other. Instead of instinct telling me to go out and attack'.”
Knight signed off by saying, “He is one of the best one-day cricketers we have seen, he is very comfortable at home Tests. So make that adjustment mentally, nothing technically, but I would love to see him find success. I know I am making it sound so easy but it's not.”
(With India Today Inputs)
