
MUMBAI: On of the most successful cricketing superstars, Rohit Sharma of India is in a poor form prompting questions on his capability to deliver in subsequent matches. Besides, The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee recently gave him a huge boost in confidence when they named him the Indian captain for the home series of ODI’s against England as well as the up coming champion’s Trophy, but what we saw of him in the last two games was a wristy batsman losing his touch.
Ranji trophy after a gap of nearly a decade ended in disappointment for Rohit. In his team Mumbai Cricket Associations Sharad Pawar Academy at BKC, Rohit could muster 3 off nineteen balls before getting dismissed by a mistimed pull shot against J & K paceman Umar Nazir. In the entire first morning of the match, he was at the crease for barely more than half an hour.
A Continued Struggle for Form
The Indian captain who is 37-year-old was once again made a poor show with bat across the formats and this game also brought more troubles for him. After a poor outing in the first innings his quest for runs and the mangy rhythm will be in the second innings. There were clear look of rustiness as Rohit seemed to lose his footing against a shining bowler in the form of Nazir on a pitch that had some movement on offer.
In the Indian game, Nazir, who bowled tight lines and made things uncomfortable for the Indian captian also managed strike the latter on the gloves during his spells. His fight continued till the sixth over when he tried to pull a slightly shorter ball that was pitched outside the off-stump. Rather than the intended line, the shot created a leading edge that was easily taken by J&K skipper Paras Dogra, mid-off.
This dismissal looked rather familiar to two of his dismissals in the international cricket. Rohit succumbed to those deliveries against Matt Henry in the ODI series versus New Zealand in Wankhede Stadium and in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Pat Cummins in MCG. Such a mistake is not expected of Rohit as a top batsman of the Indian team and it should be corrected basically for a technical issue or a poor decision which is not good for any player.
The Cost of Accommodating Rohit
Riding high on the triumphant euphoria, Mumbai has had to bench one of the calendar year’s most impactful openers, Ayush Mhatre, to make way for Rohit Sharma and other Indian stars in this Ranji Trophy match. Mhatre, just 23, has been amazing this season and has scored 408 runs in only five games, with two centuries added to his debut season.
Although affording chances to a regular player like Rohit is justified on one hand, such a move results in facesetting outstanding fresh, incumbent performers in the playing XI. This gamer obviously sparks balance of team standards and morale issues, and we examine these specifically in light of the Ranji Trophy format which aims at developing fresh talent.
A Declining Trend
This poor run with the bat, however, is not restricted to domestic cricket instances only and affects Rohit Sharma. Superb, but of late he has shown a very poor form in the international cricket than the usual one which he performs. He has failed to come good in pressure situations during the home Test series against New Zealand and in the Border Gavaskar trophy in Australia.
Age, probably, has taken a toll on the later as the veteran batsman is now 37 years of age and nowhere near as forceful or elegant as he used to be. Though class remains with you for a lifetime, form is fleeting and with it, Rohit’s dip in confidence and execution too has been visible. His failure to drive home the advantage and turn opportunities and chances into goals and open goals respectively has aroused the displeasure of the selectors and the technical crew.
What Lies Ahead for Rohit Sharma?
Nonetheless, it should not be forgotten that Rohit Sharma is young for a player of his talent to be rejected just yet. He has persisted and shown the precociousness of coming back from certain phases within his line of business. But the clock is not on his side. Especially with challenges as the future Champions Trophy series ahead that requires a captain not only with great leadership but also with a great guts to go out an perform with the bat.
Rohit’s form will indeed play a pivotal in determining India’s fortunes in the forthcoming months. Whether he can regain his mojo remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: The spike is already upon us and there’s no denying that the expectations are incredibly high. This second innings of this Ranji Trophy game may probably offer him the chance to prove a point to all his critics.
However, the current situation puts Rohit Sharma at a point in his brilliant career where he needs to fight back and the way to that needs hard work, dedication and commitment.