Rohit Sharma not opening, major reason behind his poor form: Cheteshwar Pujara
India batter Cheteshwar Pujara feels Rohit Sharma’s shift to number 6 has contributed massively to him losing his form in the ongoing series against Australia.
Notably, Rohit once again failed to leave a mark with the bat on Day 4 of the third Test in Brisbane as he got dismissed for 10 (27) by Pat Cummins. The Australia captain unsettled his opposite number through a bouncer before bowling a good length delivery to find his outside edge. As a result, Rohit continued his poor run in the series and had to return back to the pavilion cheaply. Analysing Rohit’s dismissal, Cheteshwar Pujara said that it wasn’t a length to drive for the India skipper and he should’ve defended the ball instead of going after it.
“It wasn’t a length where you can drive. We have seen that even a fuller length ball, it’s hard to drive. He, kind of tried to punch that ball. He should have defended that ball, allowed the ball to come to him rather than going for that ball. And I think the tough part is he hasn’t been, amongst runs, and, that’s where the pressure is,” said Pujara on Star Sports.
Further speaking ahead, Pujara also mentioned that the shift in his batting order could also be a major factor for his failure as he pushed himself to number 6 to allow KL Rahul to open.
Doesn’t help you when you’re opening innings and suddenly start batting at number 6: Pujara
“He has been opening the innings, now he’s batting at number 6. That is for the team, but I still feel that when you are so much used to opening the innings and when you have to wait, then you put yourself in that doubt. I mean, it doesn’t help you when you’re opening innings and you suddenly start batting at number 6. So that you don’t get that momentum either,” he added.
It was the sixth time in 12 innings that Cummins dismissed Rohit. Following his dismissal, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja stabilized the Indian innings with their 67-run stand. Rahul was making full use of his reprieve given by Steve Smith on the first ball of the day as he dropped a sitter.
He moved to 84 with the help of some gorgeous shots but fell short of a well-deserved hundred as Smith redeemed himself by taking a marvellous grab diving to his right at first slip. At the other hand, Jadeja remained unbeaten on 41 and took India to lunch along with Nitish Kumar Reddy (7*) on 167/6 trailing Australia by 278 runs.