The out-of-favour India batter believes that Rohit shifting his position in the batting order is a major factor behind his decline in form
India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara believes that Rohit Sharma coming out to bat on number 6 has highly contributed to the massive dip in his Test form. This statement comes after Rohit was only able to score 10 runs in India’s first innings of the Brisbane Test before getting dismissed by Australia skipper Pat Cummins.
The pacer bowled a brilliant good length delivery which ended up finding the outside edge off Rohit’s bat before heading straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Analyzing Rohit’s dismissal, Pujara said that the batter should have opted to defend the ball rather than trying to drive it.
“It wasn’t a length where you can drive. We have seen that even a fuller length ball, it’s hard to drive. He, kind of tried to punch that ball. He should have defended that ball, allowed the ball to come to him rather than going for that ball. And I think the tough part is he hasn’t been, amongst runs, and, that’s where the pressure is,” Pujara said on Star Sports.
Pujara also mentioned that Rohit batting on number 6 instead of opening the innings could also be a major factor behind his decline in form.
“He has been opening the innings, now he’s batting at number 6. That is for the team, but I still feel that when you are so much used to opening the innings and when you have to wait, then you put yourself in that doubt. I mean, it doesn’t help you when you’re opening innings and you suddenly start batting at number 6. So that you don’t get that momentum either,” Pujara said.
This was the sixth time in 12 innings that Cummins had taken the wicket of Rohit. The India skipper’s wicket left India reeling on 74/5. The duo of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja did well to steady India’s sinking ship with their 67-run partnership.
