Yet another promising Rohit Sharma innings culminated in a disappointing ending as he threw away a great start to hand Australia the advantage on Day 2. The 33-year-old was playing some delightful strokes before getting out cheaply.
Trailing by 369 runs, Team India lost Shubman Gill early in the innings. While the Aussie quicks had their tails up, Both Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara handled them brilliantly and nullified the effects of the new ball.
Rohit Sharma didn’t shy away from punishing the poor deliveries and was playing with a great mix of aggression and defence. From exquisite straight drives to firm back-foot punches, the right-handed batsman had all the shots on display.
When the Aussie pacers were proving to be ineffective against the 33-year-old, skipper Tim Paine introduced off-spinner Nathan Lyon into the attack. Rohit Sharma was timing the ball brillaintly and playing every delivery on its merit.
Just when fans thought that finally the star opener was set to get a big score, Rohit Sharma yet again played an irresponsible shot. Having hit Lyon for a boundary a couple of deliveries earlier, the Mumbai Indians skipper tried to be ultra-positive and take on the off-spinner.
This time though, he couldn’t reach to the pitch of the ball, and mistimed it straight into the hands of Mitchell Starc at long-on.
Fans on Twitter express their disappointment after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal
This was the third time in a row that Rohit Sharma was dismissed playing a rash shot after being well set. He made 44 of the 60 runs India had scored till then.
Knowing that Rohit Sharma’s wicket was crucial, not just in the context of the Gabba Test, but the entire series as well, fans slammed and trolled the opener for his poor shot-selection. Here is what they had to say:
Guy was getting out like this in 2018 Adelaide too when team was 4 for 60 odd.
Oh yah, there too it was Pujara at the other end. Usne hi pressure dala Hoga 😂 #AUSvsIND #INDvAUS #RohitSharma— Wanderer (@DisDatNothin) January 16, 2021
Irresponsible stuff from #RohitSharma . It is a gift to Australia and pressure on India. Now you know he has been not consistent in test. Just gives it away. Time amd time again! Sunil Gavaskar is bang on, albeit he might have used very mild words of criticism. #INDvAUS https://t.co/Kh9CXGSAIn
— Aditya Ambekar (@ambekaraditya) January 16, 2021
#INDvAUS #AUSvIND #RohitSharma is such a complete player & most of the times he gets out bcoz of his own stupidity not bcoz of brilliance of bowlers. If you are an opener of a side aiming to win World Test Championship, this can’t be done. This kind of stupidity can’t continue https://t.co/DAYaLnuOz1
— Chandan 🇮🇳 (@TilaiyanCKS) January 16, 2021
Team India have scored 62 runs for the loss of 2 wickets and a crucial session after Tea on Day 2 awaits them. It is almost imperative now that two of the visitors’ most experienced batsmen in Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane will have to get a big partnership.
If Team India slip up in their first innings and hand the Aussies a huge lead, then the visitors might be in deep trouble and won’t be able to save the Test, let alone winning it.
Published 16 Jan 2021, 11:03 IST
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