Rohit Sharma wastes patient start on Day 5 as poor Test run in Australia continues
Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s poor run in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 reached another low point on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Despite showing early resolve, Rohit failed to convert his slow start into meaningful runs, once again falling prey to Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Facing 40 deliveries, Rohit managed to score just nine runs—the most deliveries he has faced in an inning during this series. Demonstrating commendable patience in the first 16 overs, the opener looked to anchor the Indian innings. However, his resistance ended when he attempted an ambitious flick shot off Cummins, only to edge the ball to Mitchell Marsh at gully. After removing the Indian captain, Cummins continued to dent India’s chances by removing KL Rahul for a duck in the same over.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has adopted an uncharacteristically defensive approach, dropping anchor and batting against his usual aggressive style. The Indian opener survived the first hour alongside opening partner Rohit Sharma but soon witnessed Sharma and KL Rahul fall to Pat Cummins in the same over. Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah needed just four balls to wrap up the Australian innings. India now face a daunting record chase of 340 runs.
The contest between the two captains has been decisively one-sided, with Cummins dismissing Rohit six times in Tests, including four times in the current series alone. The Indian has managed just 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.20 in the ongoing Australia series, a drastic decline from his form earlier this year. His struggles have placed him among the worst-performing Indian top-order batters in an away series, with a minimum of 100 balls faced.
Rohit Sharma began 2024 on a high note, scoring 455 runs in a high-scoring series against England. However, his form has plummeted dramatically since India’s T20 World Cup triumph, raising concerns about his future in Test cricket. Rohit’s current average of 6.20 in Australia ranks as the second-lowest for a top-six batter in a Test series against Australia in Australia, and the fourth-lowest by an Indian batter in an away series. After removing the Indian captain cheaply, Cummins continued his impact by removing KL Rahul for a duck in the same over, further denting India’s chances.