Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has put all the blame on Rohit Sharma for India’s crushing 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne with a stunning yet logical statement. Rohit Sharma made the decision to return to his familiar opening position in the fourth Test against Australia after struggling to find form at number six in the second and third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has said that Rohit Sharma’s decision to open again backfired for India in the Melbourne Test backfired, resulting in zero returns from both him and KL Rahul. Rohit has been accused of ‘shattering’ the side’s confidence after the victory over Australia in Perth by Basit Ali, who reckoned it happened when Rohit decided to open for the team again after a failed show in the second and third Tests.
Rohit Sharma’s poor for continued in BGT 2024-25
The India skipper Rohit Sharma, who had missed the Australia series opener owing to the birth of his second child, decided to give up on his usual role as an opener after an impressive show from KL Rahul in Perth. But after the Brisbane Test, having failed to score runs at No. 6, he climbed back to the top, dropping Rahul to 3 and benching Shubman Gill, a move that misfired.Rohit Sharma was dismissed for just 3 and 9 runs by Pat Cummins in both innings of the recent Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. The Indian skipper has so far amassed a disappointing 31 from five innings, averaging only 6.20 in the ongoing BGT 2024-25.
This is the lowest average for any visiting captain in Australia. If he fails to perform in the upcoming fifth and final Test against Australia scheduled to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3, 2025, it could set a new low, even worse than former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh’s average of 7.75.
While Rohit Sharma did not come to Australia high on confidence, the numbers he has produced with the bat in the ongoing series are downright embarrassing. In five innings across three Tests, he has managed a paltry 31 runs at an average of 6.20. The Indian captain scored 3 & 6 in Adelaide, and 10 in Brisbane before registering twin failures in the Boxing Day Test.
Looking at his overall Test record in Australia, the right-handed batter has played 19 innings and has totaled 439 runs at a poor average of 24.38, with three half-centuries and a best of 63*.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has criticized Rohit Sharma‘s decision to reopen the batting order in the Melbourne Test, stating it backfired for India, with both Rohit and KL Rahul failing to deliver. Basit Ali accused Rohit of “shattering” the team’s confidence, suggesting this decline occurred after the win in Perth, when Rohit opted to open again despite poor performances in the second and third Tests.
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali lashes out at Rohit Sharma for opening in 4th BGT 2024-25 Test
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has hit out at Rohit Sharma for opening the innings in the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne and pushing KL Rahul down to the number three position. According to Ali, the move shattered the team’s confidence and put pressure on Rahul as well.
Team India went down to Australia by 184 runs in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG to concede a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Chasing 340, India folded up for 155 in 79.1 overs. Having decided to bat in the middle order earlier in the series, Indian captain Rohit Sharma opted to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the MCG. He failed to overcome his poor form, though, scoring 12 runs across two innings.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ali lashed out at Rohit Sharma and opined that his decision to separate the in-form opening pair of Jaiswal and Rahul caused a lot of harm to the team’s cause. He said (as quoted by The Times of India):
“Rohit is not in form, and the one who was scoring runs, (KL) Rahul, you put him under pressure as well. Aapne team ka confidence bilkul shatter kar diya (you shattered the confidence of the team).”
There are reports that Rohit could call time on his red-ball career after the New Year Test against Australia in Sydney. Ali, however, feels that the 37-year-old should step down immediately and hand over the reins to Jasprit Bumrah.
“I think the time has come for Rohit to step down; Bumrah should be made captain for the last Test. You have served India a lot, but your body is not supporting you now,” the 54-year-old commented.
In Rohit Sharma’s absence in the first Test of the series against Australia in Perth, Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian team to a comprehensive 295-run triumph. He was also named Player of the Match for claiming eight wickets.