IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma becomes Jack Leach's bunny for fifth time, throws wicket away in first innings in Hyderabad Test

Hyderabad, Jan 25: In the opening match against England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, Indian captain Rohit Sharma once again found himself walking back to the pavilion prematurely, leaving fans and experts bewildered by his shot selection.

His dismissal for 24 off 27 balls in the first innings dealt a blow to India's momentum after a promising start. At stumps, India reached 119 for 1 in 23 overs as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 76 (off 70 balls) with Shubman Gill batting on 14* at the other end.

After bundling out England for a modest 246 runs on the first day of the series opener, India seemed to be in a commanding position. The opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma provided a solid foundation, stitching together a partnership of 80 runs in just 12 overs. The English bowlers were struggling to find a breakthrough as the Indian openers dictated terms with their confident stroke play.

However, Rohit Sharma's dismissal, however, dampened the mood of the fans and experts for there was an opportunity for the senior cricketer to play a big knock. The right-handed batter's last five innings are as follows: 5, 0, 39, 16*, 24.

Known for his aggressive style of play, Rohit attempted to take on the left-arm spinner Jack Leach but fell victim to a well-executed delivery. Leach cleverly anticipated Rohit's intent, varying his pace and length to deceive the batsman. Rohit, caught in two minds, went for the lofted drive but failed to connect cleanly, resulting in a straightforward catch for Ben Stokes at mid-on.

This dismissal marked another instance of Rohit's struggles against Leach. In seven innings against the tweaker, the Mumbaikar has managed just 95 runs, averaging a mere 19.00 with a strike rate of 45.89. Such statistics highlight a concerning pattern that Rohit needs to address in the games to come.

Former Indian cricketer and legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with Rohit's shot selection, emphasising the need for better judgment in such situations. In the commentary box, Gavaskar remarked, "There wasn't a need to play that shot. He wasn't in the reach of the ball when he played the shot. He should have looked at the situation and played accordingly. There wasn't any hurry, and you were on top of the opposition. You need to curb your instincts."

Gavaskar's words echo a sentiment shared by many cricketing pundits and fans alike. While Rohit's aggressive approach has often yielded success, there are instances where tempering his instincts could prove crucial, especially when the team is in a commanding position.

As Team India looks to assert their dominance in the series against England, captain Rohit Sharma's role, especially in the absence of Virat Kohli in the first two Tests, at the top of the order becomes pivotal. His ability to adapt his game according to the situation will not only benefit his personal performance but also dictate the team's fortunes in crucial encounters.