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Mark Waugh stated that if he were an Indian selector, he would have informed Rohit that the second innings in Melbourne would be his last opportunity to secure his place in Test cricket
Rohit Sharma (center) isn’t having a good run with the bat. (AFP Photo)
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has been under the spotlight for the lack or runs in the longest format of the game. Right from the Bangladesh series at home, he hasn’t been even close to his best of form which has further dipped coming to Australia. He missed out on the first Test, due to the birth of his second child, which India won by a massive margin of 295 runs. Ever since he reunited with he team, it has been able to win a Test match in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
As far as Rohit’s batting is concerned, the Indian captain has scored 3, 6, & 10 in three innings. On the captaincy front, he has appeared completely clueless at times. His performance has been highly criticized by the experts and former Australia cricketer Mark Waugh has joined the bandwagon.
Speaking on Fox Sports, Waugh stated that if he were an Indian selector, he would have informed Rohit that the second innings in Melbourne would be his last opportunity to secure his place in Test cricket. If Rohit failed, Waugh added, he would drop him from the playing XI for the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground next month and appoint Jasprit Bumrah as the captain.
“If I was a selector now, it depends on what happens in the second innings, but if he doesn’t make runs in the second innings and we go to Sydney in a crucial Test match, I’d be saying ‘Rohit thank you for your service, you’ve been a great player, but we’re going to bring in Jasprit Bumrah as captain for the SCG and that’s the end of your career’,” Waugh told Fox Sports.
Meanwhile, former Australian batter Mike Hussey, who was also a part of the discussion panel, questioned if Rohit needs to be asked where he was mentally and physically amid this torrid run. In response, Waugh reckoned the answer lay in his numbers.
“I don’t think you have to say ‘Where are you at?’ You can see where he’s at,” Waugh said.
“The numbers don’t lie. They’ve had a few tough wickets to bat on previous to this tour in India but you just see even his movement in the field (is not good). Even tactically he’s been off the pace as well and he gets a used by date, everyone does.
“I think they’ve given him that leniency already because he’s been a great player for India. At some stage that leniency has got to stop and it stops after this Test match unless he makes runs in the second innings,” he added.
- Location :
Melbourne, Australia
