Rohit Sharma’s poor performance in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, according to former international Sanjay Manjrekar, can be linked to the “rude shock” he received during the home series against New Zealand, where his defence was “gone to pieces” on Indian wickets.
In the three innings since returning from home prior to the second Test, the Indian captain has failed to get going against Australia, reaching three, six, and ten. He scored a half-century and a fifty-two in the first Test’s second innings against the Kiwis, with sub-20 scores on either side. India suffered their first-ever whitewash in history when they lost that series 0-3.
After winning the T20 World Cup Rohit Sharma’s form has taken a dip, both in batting and captaincy. He seems to run out of options while India is bowling and off-late has looked bamboozled when batsmen like Travis Head are attacking the Indian bowlers.
“Rohit Sharma Is Short Of Confidence And Has Self Doubts” – Sanjay Manjrekar
“He is short of confidence with self-doubts,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo. “And [it was a] bit of a rude shock when he played in that home series against New Zealand and his defense was getting breached on Indian pitches… “So for someone, who in 2021 when he had that terrific series in England, and scored a strike rate of 42, which is a bit Pujara-like and the entire series he batted for about 21 hours.
This was a new discovery for all of us and now when he has to bring that game back, he just can’t find the defensive game. So that’s where the problem lies – Just gone to pieces, his defense,” “I remember commentating on that series ( 2021 England) and kept saying ‘this is Pujara-like’, the way he was grinding away. And I thought it was the rebirth of Rohit Sharma, the Test cricketer, who got those two centuries in his first two Tests. I also felt this is his true calling, this is what he loves to do – which is playing for time like a typical Mumbai batter.”
Rohit Sharma moved to number six in Australia to make place for KL Rahul at the top of the order, even though he opened the innings against New Zealand. While some Indian commentators and analysts think he has to return to his starting position in order to find his groove again, others—including former head coach Ravi Shastri—think he needs to “change tactics” and play with greater aggression.
India and Australia will play the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground beginning on December 26 after the series is level 1-1.
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