“When You’re 36, 37 Years Old…”: Sunil Gavaskar’s Brutal Verdict On Rohit Sharma’s Form | Cricket News

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar raised considerations over Rohit Sharma’s diminishing reflexes, suggesting that age is perhaps catching up with the Indian skipper after his lazy dismissal within the ongoing Boxing Day Take a look at towards Australia on Friday. Gavaskar highlighted flaws within the 37-year-old’s footwork, which have develop into extra obvious throughout his struggles within the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rohit’s choice to return to the opening slot within the fourth Take a look at match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, partnering with Yashasvi Jaiswal and relegating KL Rahul to No. 3, did not yield outcomes.

Dealing with simply 12 deliveries, Rohit managed solely three runs earlier than falling to his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins in India’s first innings at Melbourne Cricket Floor. Making an attempt a half-pull shot to a short-of-length supply outdoors off, Rohit mistimed the stroke, sending a top-edge to Scott Boland at mid-on. The shot, described by Gavaskar as an uncharacteristic lapse, underscored Rohit’s current struggles towards Cummins.

“That is a shot that he usually performs. The half-pull off the entrance foot. I believe he in all probability obtained in two minds whether or not to go for the right pull shot or not after which ended up simply making an attempt to faucet it like catching apply. However that is what occurs when you’ve got a niche, if you’re 36, 37 years previous and you’ve got an extended hole between taking part in cricket,” Gavaskar mentioned on Star Sports activities on Rohit’s dismissal.

Cummins has now dismissed Rohit seven occasions in Take a look at cricket, additional establishing himself as a nemesis. Over their encounters, the Australian skipper has conceded solely 127 runs towards Rohit throughout 199 deliveries – a stark statistic that underlines the Indian captain’s incapability to dominate the Aussie fast.

“That’s the reason why you are seeing that there’s in all probability not the identical type of footwork as you’d count on, as a result of your physique is akin to you become older. It reacts just a bit bit slower. You already know, the thoughts is there. All the things the thoughts tells you, however the physique simply does not try this. So, in the event you’re being steady on the age of 37, recurrently, no downside. As a result of you already know your bat-speed, all the pieces. The second you’ve got a break, you have to be very, very cautious, very, very aware,” he added.

The early lack of Rohit unplugged India’s struggles on a pitch that had confirmed to be a batting paradise for Australia. KL Rahul fared no higher, falling to Cummins for twenty-four runs.

Jaiswal, offered a glimmer of hope along with his fluent 82 got here off 118 balls and included 11 boundaries and a most. Partnering with Kohli, Jaiswal helped India stabilise, placing collectively a 102-run stand for the third wicket. Nonetheless, a calamitous mix-up between the 2 ended Jaiswal’s innings, with the opener run out as Kohli hesitated to reply to a dangerous single.

Kohli, who had began his innings with dedication, couldn’t capitalise on the inspiration laid alongside Jaiswal. As soon as once more, he fell prey to his behavior of edging deliveries outdoors the off-stump. Making an attempt a drive to a large supply from Scott Boland, Kohli nicked it to Alex Carey behind the stumps, departing for 36.

Kohli’s dismissal, coming simply seven balls after Jaiswal’s run-out, uncovered India’s center order to Australia’s relentless assault. Nightwatchman Akash Deep did not stem the tide, falling for a duck to Boland, who ended the day with spectacular figures of two for twenty-four.

India have been 164/5 at stumps on Day 2, nonetheless 310 runs behind Australia’s large first-innings whole of 474. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are unbeaten on the crease for six and 4 respectively.