Rohit Sharma was looking ominous for a big score in the Mohali Test against Sri Lanka having raced to 29 runs off 28 balls with the help of 6 boundaries, two of which were of pull shots against fast bowler Lahiru Kumara.
However, Sri Lanka had a plan. Despite knowing that Rohit Sharma is one of the finest players of the short ball and arguably the best puller in the game, Kumara went short again. The plan worked as Rohit Sharma went again for a pull and, this time, however, he got a top edge that landed in the hands of the fine leg fielder.
According to ESPNcricinfo, since April 2018 Rohit Sharma has been out to the pull or the hook seven times at an average of 27.4. Last year, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson had Sharma with short balls, caught deep on the leg side.
Having observed these surprising dismissals of the India captain to bouncers, legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar suggested Rohit Sharma refrain from playing his pull and hook strokes at least until he’s completely settled. Gavaskar reckoned, like Kumara, bowlers will accept going for a couple of boundaries if they can create a chance for Sharma’s wicket.
“He has got to think about it. You can argue that it is a productive shot but that is not the only shot. He has got so many others. Now every bowler who has a little bit of pace will fancy his chances against him saying, ‘I don’t mind going for a couple of sixes or boundaries but there will be an opportunity because he hits the ball in the air’,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
“So he has got to work the percentages out. If he still thinks that the percentages are working in his favour, then go on playing but at the moment, they aren’t working in his favour. So maybe he should put it in cold storage till he gets to 80,90, 100,” the 72-year-old commentator added.
India won the Mohali Test comfortably by an innings and 222 runs riding on Ravindra Jadeja‘s terrific all-round display. The second Test match, which will be a day-night affair to be played with the pink ball, starts on Saturday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.
