Rohit Sharma is undoubtedly one of the best limited-overs players in the world. Statistically second, just behind Virat Kohli.
Since July 2013, after his promotion as an opener, he is second highest ODI scorer in the world behind Kohli with around 5000 runs at an average of 63. He has also scored 19 ODI centuries in this period.
Additionally, Rohit is India’s most successful T20 batsman with 2237 career runs. He also holds the record of highest number of international T20 centuries with 4.
It is almost unprecedented that such a successful limited-overs batsman is seemingly on a borrowed time in the longest format of the game.
After the frustration of Adelaide Oval, there are concerns if he will even feature at Perth. This Australia series could be one of the last opportunities for this talented right-hander to be in India’s Test side.
Some point out at his temperament while others think that his batting technique is ill-suited for Test cricket.
According to me, two of his biggest shortcoming in Tests are his biggest strengths in limited overs, is his inability to let go off deliveries and try to play scoring shots. So often in Tests, he has been dismissed trying to play too many shots.
During the third T20I at Sydney, Rohit was praised for rotating the strike. When Shikhar Dhawan was hitting boundaries, he was playing around the field smartly for ones and twos.
This has been the feature of his ODI and T20I batting. Rohit usually takes time at the start before starting with big hits.
However, when he doesn’t hit boundaries, his ones and twos keep the scoreboard ticking. Rohit Sharma likes ball on his bat. He likes when his willow makes the sweet sound.
Ironically, his this strength seems to be jeopardizing his Test career.
One of the most impressive features of Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting at Adelaide was his defence. He took Nathan Lyon on, used his pad effectively, avoided the temptation of hitting drives and cuts through the offside as his partners perished trying to play shots.
Pujara gave the Australians a very limited number of chances to get him out. The same formula of not playing the deliveries outside their off stumps was followed by Usman Khawaja in the first innings to a limited success and by Ajinkya Rahane to a greater effect in the second innings.
Take Rohit Sharma’s first innings. He came out to bat when India were languishing at 41/4. Pujara looked solid but was quickly running out of partners.
Rohit started to attack and tried establishing authority. His six off Pat Cummins oozed class. In fact, at one time, Rohit nearly scored all the runs in their partnership.
It finally felt that he can make the most of this chance. India have not had a competent number six since Sourav Ganguly retired around ten years back.
Then with his individual score on 31, Rohit played a slog sweep off Nathan Lyon. The shot had a greater elevation than distance. He was nearly caught out by Marcus Harris but fortunately for Rohit, Harris touched the boundary rope with ball in hand and six runs were awarded to India.
Immediately on the next ball, he headed down the pitch, Lyon smartly pulled back his length, Rohit got cramped for room, he still went ahead with the shot, pulled to the square leg boundary and his top edge went comfortably into Harris’ hands. Rohit Sharma was gone.
Coming at 41/4, he scored 37 at a strike rate of above 60. He looked settled. Imagine if he would have carried on and partnered Pujara nicely – what an innings it could have been for his Test career. Alas! It did not happen.
Letting go of deliveries and playing too many shots has hampered Rohit Sharma’s Test career to date. After his failure in first two Tests in South Africa earlier this year, cricket analyst Dean Jones argued that Rohit’s defensive skills are letting him down in this format.
There have been murmurs in India that he should be sent to first-class cricket to hone his defensive skills before he makes it to India’s Test squad.
Ironically, one of the best batsmen in Adelaide was Pat Cummins. He showed solidity for nearly all of 121 balls he faced.
It will be unfair to compare and rate Cummins against Rohit. It will be similar to when David Moyes asked Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand to watch videos of Phil Jagielka and study his defensive style.
This was thought to be one of things which pushed the veteran centre back pairing out of the Old Trafford.
However, Pat Cummins’ defence was solid. Most expected Adelaide’s pitch to hold well. Legends turned experts such as Mark Waugh and Shane Warne were quite vocal that Australia could very well chase the total down and the ball won’t spin much.
When Cummins was batting, he let go deliveries of the pacemen and his bat nearly always faced towards the ground when he played his shots (especially against Ravi Ashwin).
This alongside playing with delicate hands meant that even when he mistimed, the ball never carried to the close in fielders or in the sleep cordon.
There is no denial of Rohit Sharma’s talent. The shots he played in first innings were superb. However, Test cricket is more than shot-playing. Letting go of balls where a shot need not be played forms the essence.
Sunil Gavaskar saved matches by this tactic in the past and Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 241 at Sydney by not playing a single attacking shot on the offside.
It is extremely important to keep on watching the balls and avoid committing to shots if not needed.
India could have been helped if Rohit would have stayed longer on the field in the first innings. He is such a good player who can score 100 runs in a session without giving many chances to the opposition if he gets going.
Sadly, that was not to be.
Letting go is one of the most important things in life and cricket is no exception. One can play a long Test innings and be very effective in Test cricket by playing shots only when needed and keeping attacking instincts in check.
Rohit Sharma needs to implement this in his game if he wants to keep his place in India’s Test side.
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