Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has slammed the tame shot India captain Rohit Sharma played that led to his dismissal off Pat Cummins on day two of the Boxing Day Test, saying one has to be switched on and make good decisions when facing a formidable bowling line-up.
Rohit's attempt to take the opening batting mantle for himself in the series backfired when he played one-leg half-hearted pull from Cummins and the top-edge was easily caught by mid-on to be out for three in the second over. That took Rohit's tally of runs to 22 in this series and thus pushed his woeful form to an all-new low for Tests this year.
That is just a lazy, not switched on, not up for the moment type of shot. He has been known as one of the best hookers and pullers of the ball since he made his debut, but that is just not there, it is nothing. It is not committed. It is not looking to be aggressive. He is just looking to tap it on the head.
"Might have held in the wicket, yes, might have seamed away from him a fraction, but if you are going to survive against this Australian attack you have to be switched on and making good decisions. If you are not, they will knock you over every time," said Ponting on Channel Seven.
A similar critique of Rohit's choice of shot came from former Australia cricketer Darren Lehmann. "If he's going to hit it, hit it Rohit. You're a class player, you should actually take that on. Plenty of room in the outfield, take it on," he said on ABC Sport.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also came hard on Rohit for his lazy dismissal. "That's a really big mistake … it was a nothing shot. He is just (hit it) too early in the innings and hasn't got used to the pace and bounce. It's a sad state for the Indian captain, averaging 11 in his past 14 Test innings."
