Team India’s 2024-25 Test started with a series against Bangladesh. This year didn’t turn out to be in favour of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma in Test cricket. He not only suffered a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home, but it was India’s first series loss at home after 12 years. The thing did not end here; he was also seen struggling to score runs with the bat, managing to score just 152 runs in seven Tests at an average of 11.69, smashing one fifty in 13 innings.
He has played a total of 13 Tests this year, making 607 runs at an average of 26.39, with two centuries and fifties in 24 innings, having a best score of 131.
Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri pointed out Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and his struggling Test form. He believes that the 37-year-old player needs to be very clear in his mindset and approach towards the game and should play without worrying about anything.
In a recent interview, Shastri said that he would have asked Rohit to open in the Brisbane Test. He praised KL Rahul’s performance and said that it was a joy to watch his batting.
“I would have asked him (Rohit) to open in the last Test match, but then the way Rahul has batted, I mean, he was a joy to watch, and the way he’s batting, I believe he struck a purple patch.”
Further, he said that he would like to see Rohit change some of his tactics, and if he does so, he would be extremely dangerous at number six.
“It could be a position he might just want to keep and enhance the way he’s playing because his technique was faultless. The way he left the ball, the way he allowed the ball to come onto the bat—I mean, some of his cover drives were as good as any played by anyone in world cricket at the moment. And so I think when there’s that much confidence there, you know, let it be. I would like to see Rohit Sharma's tactics change a bit because he can still be extremely dangerous at that number (six).”
“I think he’s got to be very clear in his mindset to go out there and take the attack to the opposition and not worry about anything else.”
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is currently tied at 1-1 after the third Test gets drawn due to bad weather and lightning. India won the first Test at the Pereth while Australia won the second in Adelaide. Now, both the teams will be looking forward to taking the lead in the remaining two Tests and winning the series.
The Boxing Day Test will kick off on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).