Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar slammed Rohit Sharma’s dismissal ahead of tea on day two of the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
READ: Of timing and intent – Rohit Sharma’s great gifts are also frustrating hurdles
Rohit’s classy innings was undone by a moment’s indiscretion as India reached 62/2 at tea after the visitors’ bowling attack restricted Australia to 369 at Gabba. The opener was elegant as ever in his 44 off 74 balls before Nathan Lyon, playing his 100th Test, enticed him to come down the track. The half-chip-half-loft was safely pouched by Mitchell Starc in the deep.
“Why, why, why? That’s an unbelievable shot. That’s an irresponsible shot. There’s a fielder there at long on, there’s a fielder there at deep square leg.
“You’ve just hit a boundary a couple of deliveries earlier. Why would you play that shot? You are a senior player, there’s no excuse, absolutely no excuse for that shot. An unnecessary wicket, an unnecessary wicket, gifted away. Totally unnecessary.
“What a waste of a wicket. This is Test match cricket. You have to start, you have to convert it into a big hundred particularly when the opposition has 369.”
— via 7 Cricket / ESPNcricinfo
India also lost Shubman Gill (7) who edged one off Pat Cummins to Steve Smith. Cheteshwar Pujara (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (2) added only two runs in the 6.1 overs before the break. Australia were earlier bowled out for 369.
Here are some reactions to the Rohit Sharma dismissal:
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