Subhayan Chakraborty at the MCG
India’s struggles on the field persisted into Day 2, as they failed to capitalise on a favourable wind and the relatively new ball. Steve Smith and Pat Cummins built a 112-run partnership, followed by Smith’s 44-run stand with Mitchell Starc. Australia, having ended Day 1 at 311/6, amassed 474, showcasing another disappointing performance by India’s bowlers. In response, India ended the day at 159/5, with captain Rohit Sharma’s return to the opening slot proving unproductive as he was dismissed for 3 after a poorly executed pull shot off Cummins.
KL Rahul followed, falling for 24 to a peach of a delivery from Australia’s captain. Despite a promising 102-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, their dismissals in quick succession left India in a precarious position at stumps.
Rohit’s performance was notably lacklustre. On a pitch offering little assistance to bowlers, he attempted an ill-advised pull against a delivery wide of off stump. His captaincy, too, has been under scrutiny, appearing uninspired and lacking in strategy.
Rohit’s recent scores paint a grim picture: 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6, 10, and 3 over his last 14 innings, averaging a mere 11.07. This poor form places additional pressure on him, especially when compared to teammates who have been dropped for similar performances. Shubman Gill was excluded from the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test due to inconsistency, while the now-retired Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were benched after underwhelming performances in earlier matches.
With his reflexes slowing down and his confidence wavering, Rohit’s future as a Test cricketer might be in jeopardy, particularly if India lose this match. The dismissals of Jaiswal and Kohli, both due to momentary lapses of concentration, highlighted the fragility of India’s batting line-up.
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“Looks like Jaiswal called for a run and Virat sent him back,” was Smith’s assessment of the day’s pivotal moment, minutes before the close of play. “As simple as that. I didn’t see much more than that. I was running in excited. It was a really good partnership, so to break that one and get two more wickets…Huge last hour for us. That was a big play in the context of the game, I suppose.”
In the post-day press conference, Sundar remained optimistic, stating, “We were looking on for big runs especially when Virat bhai and Yashasvi were batting. We will still come back strong and continue to fight. The energy in the dressing room is still good. There’s still a long way to go in this game, lots of overs to go. It will be about us fighting hard for the team.”
India’s bowling strategy seemed outdated and ineffective, particularly against Australia’s lower order. Jasprit Bumrah shouldered the bowling workload, taking four wickets in 28.4 overs, while Akash Deep managed two in 26. However, Mohammed Siraj’s performance was particularly disappointing, finishing the innings without a wicket after bowling 23 overs and conceding 122 runs at an economy rate of 5.3. The spinners, Jadeja and Sundar, also didn’t pose much threat.
Siraj’s series statistics are concerning, with 13 wickets at an average of 33.31. His effectiveness has diminished after a promising start in Perth. He currently averages 122 against Australia’s top four in this series. His economy rates in recent innings have been high, suggesting the need to look at fresh talent like Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna, who are currently reserves.
With key players out of form, both in batting and bowling, the Indian team management faces critical decisions. As the Boxing Day Test moves into Day 3, India’s prospects for a win appear bleak.
Also Read: Has time run out for Rohit Sharma?