Rohit Sharma after his dismissal at the MCG (PC: Debasis Sen)
Gargi Raut in Melbourne
In the midst of the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the series all square at 1-1, India made the arguably questionable call of tinkering with their batting lineup for the Boxing Day Test. KL Rahul, India’s most consistent batter in the series, was moved down to No. 3, and Shubman Gill wasdropped from the side. This was in order to accommodate Washington Sundar in view of the conditions, according toassistant coach Abhishek Nayar. It also restored Rohit Sharma, the skipper, to the opening position.
But what happened on Day 2 of the Test left fans with a bad taste in their mouths. The opportunity was there for the captain to come good, but his dismissal for just 3 added yet another chapter to a series of underwhelming performances. Facing a short ball outside off stump from Pat Cummins, the pull shot that has been Rohit’s signature over the years was executed with hesitation. It was a moment that highlighted just how much he is struggling mentally.
Watching the dismissal, the only thing that ran through your mind was that on another day, or even six months ago, that shot would have gone over the boundary. On Friday, it only landed in the hands of Scott Boland. His dismissal raised questions not just about his form but also about the team management. Was tinkering with a batting line-up that hadgiven you solid starts in previous matches a gamble worth taking?
Throughout the series, the brightest spot in the Indian batting has been the opening partnership, between Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The two have provided solid starts, consistency and a platform for the middle order to build an innings. Rohit moving back to the opening spot was a decision that came with no guarantees. In the past 14 innings, the skipper has only managed to get to double digits five times.
Rohit’s struggles are not limited to the bat. His captaincy has been equally strained, his body language on the field tentative, unsure and lacking the spark that it takes to pressure a confident Australia. The pressures of captaincy and bad form have seemed to take a toll.
The Path Forward
There’s still time left in the match, as Sundar declared in the press conference that the “match is not yet over, we will fight back”. But tough decisions await the Indian management. Should they persist with Rohit in the opening spot in the hope that he regains his form? Or is it time to take a bold call for the betterment of the team? Does Rohit have a place in the team if he’s not the captain?
Going forward, could Jasprit Bumrah be handed the reins allowing Rohit to focus solely on his batting? As Bumrah said during the first Test match, the Indian team is at a transitional stage. But now, it also finds itself at a crossroads with its captain. While Rohit has been a cornerstone of Indian cricket for over a decade, his current situation may not align with the team’s long-term vision. For now, the question looms: is Rohit Sharma the captain India needs, or is the burden of leadership weighing him down?
