Rohit Sharma Faces Backlash Over Torrid Form in Tests.
Photo : AP
Rohit Sharma's recent performances in Test cricket have once again come under intense scrutiny, leading to renewed calls for his retirement from the longest format of the game. This was after Sharma's wretched run Down Under continued as India slipped to 159/5 on day two of the fourth Test after Australia rode on Steve Smith's 34th hundred to post a challenging first innings score of 474.
Rohit's (3) mistimed a pull-short, and Scott Boland had the easiest of takes at mid-on off a Pat Cummins' delivery. His shot-making was severely criticised by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
"That's just a lazy, not switched on, not up for the moment type of shot. He's been known as one of the best hookers and pullers of the ball since he's made his debut but that's just not there," Ponting told 7 Cricket.
"It's nothing. It's not committed, not really looking to be aggressive, he's just looking to tap it on the head.
"Might have held in the wicket yes, it might have seamed away from him a fraction. But if you're going to survive against this Australian attack, you've got to be switched on.
"You've got to be making good decisions. If you're not, they'll knock you over every time," he explained.
Fans on social media were not kind either. While some recalled his last few innings, others calculated his woeful average in Tests.
"Rohit Sharma in Last 14 Innings- 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6, 10, 3
"Runs : 155"
"Average : 11.07"
"Jasprit Bumrah in this BGT: 25 Wickets"
"Rohit Sharma in this BGT: 22 Runs"
"Time for Retirement from Test format," many of them added.
Ex-cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan also pointed out Rohit was poor in captaincy and said that the Indian team 'looked completely different under the leadership of Bumrah.'
Meanwhile, at the end of the day, India reached 164/5 at stumps on day two, trailing Australia by 310 runs.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Cricket, Sports and around the world.
