Rohit Sharma’s woeful run of form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy continued despite his return to the opening spot for the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG on Friday (December 27).
The Indian skipper, who batted at No. 6 in the last two Tests, managed to score only 3 runs in the first innings before being dismissed by his counterpart Pat Cummins.
Facing a short-of-length delivery outside off, Rohit attempted a half-hearted pull shot, resulting in a mistimed top-edge that went straight up towards mid-on, where Scott Boland completed a simple catch.
Speaking on Star Sports, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, suggesting that age seems to be catching up with the Indian captain.
"That's a shot that he normally plays. The half-pull off the front foot. I think he probably got in two minds whether to go for the proper pull shot or not and then ended up just trying to tap it like catching practice. But that's what happens when you have a gap, when you're 36, 37 years old and you have a long gap between playing cricket," Gavaskar said.
The 75-year-old also pointed out Rohit’s diminishing reflexes, particularly evident in his ill-timed dismissal.
"That is the reason why you're seeing that there is probably not the same sort of footwork as you would expect, because your body is such as you get older. It reacts just a little bit slower. You know, the mind is there. Everything the mind tells you, but the body just doesn't do that. So, if you're being continuous at the age of 37, regularly, no problem. Because you know your bat-speed, everything. The moment you have a break, you must be very, very careful, very, very mindful," he added.
Coming to the Melbourne Test, India found themselves in a tough spot at 164/5 by the end of the second day’s play, trailing Australia in the first innings by 310 runs with only five wickets remaining.
The visitors will now hope that Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and the remaining batters rise to the occasion on the third day and keep their hopes alive against a formidable Australian attack.
