Concerns about India skipper Rohit Sharma's form grew ahead of the commencement of the fourth Test against Australia.
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a video of the 37-year-old battling against part-time spinner Devdutt Padikkal went viral on social media. Fans dubbed it "embarrassing".
Rohit Sharma joined the Indian team during the Perth Test he missed due to paternity leave. However, since his return to the Indian XI in the Adelaide Test, he has scores of 3,6, and 10 in the three innings including one in the Brisbane Test.
The Indian captain moved to the no.6 spot, sacrificing his opening position for Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who put on 201 runs in the Perth Test and have struggled against the pace ofAustraliana bowlers. It only further added to his woeful run in Test cricket since September, where he scored just 152 runs in 13 innings at 11.69, with only one half-century knock.
Rohit was observed taking on spinners at the nets ahead of the series' fourth Test, which begins on December 26 in Melbourne. Padikkal, a part-time off-spinner, joined Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar in challenging the Indian leadership.
Padikkal, who only played one Test match in this series in Perth, beat Rohit with a ball that stayed low and smacked the batsman on the backfoot, setting up a likely LBW claim.
Here is the video:
The video went viral on social media and fans reacted to Rohit Sharma’s struggles, with many speculating whether it is the end of the 37-year-old in Test cricket.
Here are some reactions: