Former England pacer Steve Harmison lauds Rohit Sharma for his captaincy following India's 434-run victory in Rajkot
Published - 19 Feb 2024, 03:16 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:26 AM
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Former England pacer Steve Harmison praised Indian opener Rohit Sharma’s captaincy during England’s second innings of the recent Test match. Steve Harmison emphasized Rohit Sharma’s strategic changes in bowling approach and adept field placements.
The Rohit Sharma-led team clinched a 434-run victory over England in the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, securing a commanding 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-match series. India also achieved their biggest victory margin by runs in Test cricket.
Block Off The Areas England Have Been Scoring – Stephen Harmison
In a conversation with ESPNCricinfo, Steve Harmison highlighted how Rohit Sharma’s leadership acumen was evident in adapting to match conditions and effectively restricting England’s scoring strengths.
“That comes down to the quality of bowling, pressure of scoreboard, and the situation, but it also reflects on where Rohit Sharma is from a captaincy point of view, the way he’s gone about changing his outlook on bowling in this team. You look at Rohit’s fielding positions, you know, the ability to block off the areas where England have been scoring strongly,” Steve Harmison said.
India bundled out England for 122 while defending 556 runs. Ravindra Jadeja picked up a fifer in the second innings, including key batters Ollie Pope and Joe Root. Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin each picked up one.
A Smart Bit Of Captaincy – Stephen Harmison
Steve Harmison noted the increased pressure on the batter and the subsequent reliance on the sweep shot, which proved ineffective during this innings. He commended Rohit Sharma‘s captaincy and impressive bowling tactics for putting pressure on the England team.
“I think because of that the pressure put on the batter, then the turn to the sweep, and unfortunately for the sweep in this innings, just didn’t work. I thought that was a smart bit of captaincy and also fantastic bowling to put pressure on the England batting unit,” Harmison stated.
Rohit Sharma Rescued India In First With Brilliant Century
India set a formidable total of 445 runs in their first innings, spearheaded by centuries from captain Rohit Sharma (131 off 196) and Ravindra Jadeja (112 off 225). Mark Wood showcased his bowling prowess by securing a four-wicket haul against the Indian batting lineup.
England were in a commanding position in the first innings, with a score of 224/2. However, their fortunes swiftly turned as they lost their final eight wickets for a mere 95 runs. The visiting team conceded a significant lead of 126 runs to the Rohit Sharma-led team.
The hosts made a strong declaration at 430/4 on the fourth day. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 214 runs from 236 deliveries, featuring 12 sixes and 14 boundaries. Shubman Gill narrowly missed out on a century, scoring 91 runs from 151 balls.
Sarfaraz Khan scored an unbeaten 68 from 72 deliveries, with the help of three sixes and six boundaries. England’s bowling unit faced difficulties in making significant breakthroughs, with Joe Root, Rehan Ahmed, and Tom Hartley each securing just one wicket apiece.
