Rohit Sharma’s poor form and India’s consecutive Test losses under his captaincy raise concerns about his place in the team. His struggles against swing and pace in Australia, coupled with a recent string of low scores, have prompted questions about his batting approach and whether his age is a factor.

ADELAIDE: “When you come to Australia, your best chance of winning a Test match is by putting runs on the board.” This was a downcast Rohit Sharma after India failed collectively as a batting unit in the day-night Test. The team’s front man has, as is the norm, been left facing most of the heat following India’s defeat in less than three days to Australia in the second Test.
The regular opener even dropped down to No. 6 to avoid unsettling the opening combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who were so impressive in Perth. Even assuming the new pair deserves more time at the top, the team now faces more questions than answers regarding Rohit’s spot in the team. Should he reclaim his usual spot and face the new Kookaburra ball at the Gabba? Should he continue in the middle order since he looked so out of touch — and confidence — after having walked into the team following paternity leave?

The other, significant aspect is whether Rohit’s poor run of scores — which has now coincided with India losing four Tests in a row under his captaincy — is just a temporary glitch, which big players can often wrest their way out of, or sign of a more terminal decline. At 37, Rohit isn’t getting any younger and the quick turnaround between the second and third Tests ensures very little time to work on technical tweaks, if the captain feels any are required.
Since the fine 103 against England in Dharamshala in March, Rohit has had a horror runs of scores in Tests in which he has one half-century from 12 innings: 6 and 5 against Bangladesh in Chennai, 23 and 8 vs Bangladesh in Kanpur, 2 and 52 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, 0 and 8 vs NZ in Pune, 18 and 11 vs NZ in Mumbai and 3 and 6 here in Adelaide. Some of those failures at home were explained away by the fact that Rohit has lately been keen on upping the scoring rate against the new ball even in Tests, and therefore willing to sacrifice his wicket at times.

In Australia, however, his form has snowballed into a matter of concern, especially with the other batters floundering and Rohit looking so tentative during his short stays in the middle.
In the first innings here, he played out 10 balls till lunch for one run, being beaten multiple times by Mitchell Starc but surviving. After lunch, he mostly defended on the front foot to Boland but lasted just another 13 balls, falling to the same bowler as a fuller length proved to be his undoing, the ball nipping back and catching the batsman plumb in front.
In the crucial second innings, with the match in the balance, Rohit had a torrid time against the pink ball under lights, lasting only 15 balls. The deviant swing generated by Starc would have had him second ball if the bowler hadn’t overstepped, before a leaden footed approach ensured Pat Cummins had him with another full one which angled in and took the top of the off stump.
The sheer quality of the Aussie pacers means such deliveries may be the norm throughout the series. Although a return to day Tests and the regular Kookaburra will offer relief, will it be enough? Rohit has never been big on extended strides and picture-perfect footwork, but he would unfailingly read the length earlier than most, giving himself more time to execute his shots. However, he has always been challenged by extreme swing and pace, and averages just 29.66 in SENA countries, 27.8 in Australia and 16.63 in South Africa.

He looked sublime in England in 2021, but that rhythm seems to have gone missing, leading pundits on both sides to sound out their concerns. Former Australia cricketer Kerry O’ Keefe told Fox Sports that “it’s a tough gig to come here at 37 years of age”.
“You could count on one hand the number of 37-year-old-plusses who have come to Australia and had a significant effect on the series. I think Pakistan’s Younis Khan is one. Jacques Kallis of South Africa is another. Both averaged over 50,” O’ Keefe said.
Cheteshwar Pujara has said he is “concerned” with how Rohit is getting out. “Rohit got out LBW in the first innings and opened up his stance in the second innings, so he got bowled there. He will have to work a little bit more on that line because, from the same spot, he is getting LBW to the ball that is coming in and bowled to the ball that is going away,” Pujara said.
Right now, it’s not an easy time to be Rohit, either as batsman or captain. If some of the others can deliver results in Brisbane, he may get a breather and find some more time to attune himself to tough Australian conditions.