Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Cricket IND vs AUS Indian Cricket

Rohit’s lack of runs and Gill squandering another start underpin disappointing Indian batting

December 7, 2024
<a href="https://revsportz.in/author/boria/" rel="author" class="url fn n" itemprop="url"><img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e660b408ca5a915f1c718d0cd98a879b?s=32&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e660b408ca5a915f1c718d0cd98a879b?s=64&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-32 photo' height='32' width='32' decoding='async'/> <span class="" itemprop="name">Boria Majumdar</span></a>
Subhman Gill and Rohit Sharma after getting out at Adelaide (Image: Debasis Sen)

India won the toss and, despite the Yashasvi Jaiswal wicket off the first ball, started really well. At 69-1, Indian fans had started to feel that the first session was going their way. That’s when it happened. KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and then Rohit Sharma, whose form continues to be a real concern, fell in quick succession. Australia had control, and they haven’t given it up since.

While Rohit will need to find ways to score runs, for it becoming a real issue for India, may I also say that it was an opportunity lost for someone like Gill. He was the best Indian batter on view and extremely pleasing to the eye. He played some exquisite shots. But that’s where the issue is. This is Test cricket, and a fantastic 30 has no real meaning when batting first. He was in, and had he gone on to score 130, India could have got 300. With Gill, that’s my issue. He is the next leader of the batting group, but gets out far too many times after getting starts. For someone who was playing well to miss the fullish delivery and be LBW was a killer blow for India. Had Gill been there, things could have been very different.

Take the case of Jaiswal in Perth. When he got a start in the second innings, he made it count. It was his opening act with KL Rahul that won India the match. While Kohli played well for his 100, the truth is that it was the opening partnership that made the difference. If you get in, you score big. That is the mantra and that’s what has been lacking with Gill.

 

When Gill bats, it is as if there is nothing that can trouble him. He is a sublime stroke maker, but then almost against the run of play, he gives his wicket away. Is it lack of concentration or an issue with his temperament? Whatever it is, Gill will need to sort this to be the next big thing that we expect him to be.

Coming to Rohit, the lack of runs – it is now 136 in his last 11 innings – will mean the pressure will start to mount on the Indian captain. It could also impact his captaincy, for an under-pressure Rohit will surely miss a few cues. That dropped catch with Rishabh Pant going for it did not help, and all in all, it was a forgettable day for the skipper. What is worrying is the way he got out.

We have seen Rohit practice against the incoming ball over the last few days. He knows there is a weakness. And again, it was the nip-backer from Scott Boland that had his number. There was a huge gap between bat and pad, and that’s my worry. More than the dismissal, it was the way he got out that makes me concerned for Rohit going forward.

India will need a strong second morning to bounce back. There is still something there, and the pink ball will bounce. If Jasprit Bumrah and company can get the line right and get a few early wickets, this match could still open up. On the contrary, a huge first innings lead for Australia will mean the pressure on Rohit will be massive going into Brisbane. For him, Gill and all of the batters, it is now back to Bumrah. Can he rerprise Perth and bowl another special spell to get India back into the Test?