THE GREAT GAMBLE didn't come off. The opening didn't need any fixing; Rohit Sharma's batting did. But the most bewildering event was not that Rohit opened but the way he went about it. The shot he got out wasn't one of intent nor was he 'smashing' the ball. Rohit was slow in the movements and hesitant in the mind.
If the reason for his elevation was to bat with more freedom, as an attacking mindset can get the feet, hands, eyes sharper, the Indian captain should have tried that approach first in the middle order when the ball turns softer and isn't seaming around. Caution isn't working lower down, so let's try with some whiteball adventurism at the top - Test cricket doesn't work like that.
In case openers KL Rahul or Yashasvi Jaiswal had been struggling, Rohit's elevation would have made sense. But with his form, and more importantly the form and touch of the openers, the change of batting order wasn't really warranted.
This story is from the December 28, 2024 edition of Financial Express Chennai.
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This story is from the December 28, 2024 edition of Financial Express Chennai.
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