Prior to the first test in Hyderabad starting from 25th January , England team inspired by Bazball tactics desired to apply same on Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma led Indian team . With many speculated England’s Bazball tactics to be fruitless on spinning tracks in India 4 days later on 28th January inspired by scintillating 196 runs by vice captain Ollie Pope and a 7 wicket haul in the second innings on debut by spinner Tom Hartley , England made Bazball talking as India slumped to 28 runs defeat giving 1-0 lead to visitor England.
While many would have thought How Bazball could work on spin friendly wickets in India and speculated after second day’s play that England wont survive another innings from Indian spin trio, England sprung in a surprise with a win over India and to be surprised Rohit Sharma as a captain failed to contain England in the second innings after India took a humungous first innings lead of 190 runs .
Rohit Sharma’s poor form in tests over past few years
In absence of India’s star batter Virat Kohli due to personal reasons from the first two tests in India , all were expecting that India’s batting hopes lied on the shoulders of Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma who captained India in the final of the recently concluded ICC World Test Championships 2021-23 and the famous Capetown win in January 2024 with Rahul Dravid helming coaching duties was expected to win the first test against England in Hyderabad.
With the bat Rohit Sharma too had returned to form post his superb record breaking fifth century in the last T20I versus the Afghanistan and many felt that the batter got a right form in front of the much anticipated series a week later. However things were not to be so easy in the first test versus England.
After bundling out England for mere 246 in the first innings , India got to a flying start of 80 runs for the first wicket in inside 12 overs but the majority of the contributor was youngster Yashaswi Jaiswal who blasted the English bowlers. Rohit Sharma on the other hand managed 24 runs of 27 balls.
In the second innings of England batting, Rohit Sharma and his team had a chance to bowl out England well before the lead of 190 they took in the first innings and had England reeling 163 for 5 , however Rohit Sharma whose bowling attack was bolstered by the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel alongside Jasprit Bumrah failed to restrict England to meagre total as they set India a target of 231 runs to win a test match.
In conquest of 231 where India required a positive approach, the Indian batters failed to achieve the same. Rohit Sharma expected to lead the side to victory started on the positive note showed some aggression with sweeps and reverse sweeps only to fall at stroke of tea scoring 39 runs giving debutant Tom Hartley his 3rd wicket of the innings and India reeling at 95 for 3 at Tea on Day 4. Further India slumped to a 28 runs defeat and a question is raised on Rohit Sharma’s ability as a captain and a batter to take India to the target .
Rohit Sharma also had a forgettable series in South Africa, managing a solitary half-century in four innings. His inability to convert starts to big scores has raised doubts in the mind of Former England player and commentator Geoffrey Boycott.
Rohit Sharma is nearly 37 and past his best- Geoffrey Boycott
Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott reckons Indian captain Rohit Sharma is well past his best, suggesting that the Englishmen can beat the hosts in the ongoing Test series. Boycott also believes Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja will be big misses for the second Test.
Rohit had excellent starts in both innings of the first Test against England in Hyderabad but failed to build on it. The veteran also had a forgettable series in South Africa, managing a solitary half-century in four innings.
In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott pointed out that Rohit has played only pretty cameos and that he seems uninspiring as captain, adding that England could repeat their heroics of 2012.
“Their captain Rohit Sharma is nearly 37 and past his best. He makes pretty cameos but has only scored two Test hundreds at home in four years. They are also weak in the field.
“This India team is ripe for the taking, and England have a golden chance to be the first side to topple them on their own patch for 12 years. India badly miss Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja has a hamstring injury and will not play the second Test.”
Ollie Pope dropped on 110 by Axar Patel , went on to make a match-winning 196 to wipe out a 190-run deficit and turn it into a 230-run lead. The tourists eventually won by 28 runs.
Boycott reflected that Ravindra Jadeja and Kohli are vital to India’s chances, especially pointing out that the latter’s presence is powerful.
“Jadeja is a huge blow. He is a great all-rounder, top bowler, brilliant fielder and was their best batsman in the first Test. Kohli is their talisman,”
“He is a magnificent batsman who averages 60 on Indian pitches, but he also gives them great energy in the field. He is a big loss, and England must make the most of it before he comes back for the third Test,”
The former player also added that England will not find a better opportunity to win a Test series in India, who are missing several key players.
“India are due a defeat at home. The signs are good, as they have lost Kohli, Jadeja, Mohammad Shami and Rishabh Pant and are playing opponents full of confidence after a remarkable win. England must take this rare opportunity,”
The second Test begins on February 2 in Vishakhapatnam and India under Rohit Sharma has a big task ahead first to draw level the series and then keep their home record of test series win intact since 2012.