"He needs to attack..." - Dinesh Karthik tears apart Rohit Sharma for captaincy blunder

Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has criticized Rohit Sharma‘s captaincy during the first Test by India and England in Hyderabad. The visitors beat India by 28 runs to take the lead in the five-match series.

The hosts were firmly in the driver’s seat after the first innings before capitulating in a spectacular fashion. India bowled out England for 246 before scoring 436 to take a huge lead of 190 runs. In the second innings, England scored 420 runs thanks to a brilliant knock of 196 by Ollie Pope.

Set a target of 231 runs, India were bowled out for 202 runs to lose the game inside 4 days. Debutant Tom Hartley starred with the ball for England, taking 7 for 62. For India, Rohit Sharma scored 39 and was the only player from his side to reach the 30-run mark.

Dinesh Karthik criticizes Rohit Sharma:

Following India’s unexpected loss in the first Test, Dinesh Karthik has said Rohit Sharma made a tactical blunder by setting a defensive field for England’s lower order. England were reeling at 163 for 5 in the second innings before Pope shared crucial partnerships with lower-order batters to help his side pile up a 400-plus total. Karthik stated that Rohit Sharma should not let his bowlers set a defensive field in the upcoming games.

“India definitely didn’t bowl well. The one thing Rohit Sharma needs to do in the next Test is not accept whatever the bowler is setting in terms of field. A lot of the times I’ve seen bowlers sometimes try to be more defensive than they need to be. He needs to push the bowlers to set slightly attacking fields, at least to the opponent bowlers and batters who have just walked in,” Dinesh Karthik told Cricbuzz.

“Rohit Sharma needs to understand that in Test cricket, just like his batting, he needs to attack and show intent with the ball as well. A No. 9 or No. 10 batter can’t come on a turning pitch and take singles easily. He shouldn’t be allowing that. That is the time to buck up, and that’s an area they missed with the ball,” he added.

Rohit Sharma and his teammates will be desperate to bounce back in the second Test and draw level in the series. The second Test is scheduled to be played in Vizag from February 2. On their last tour of India too, England had won the first Test before losing the remaining three games. India will be hoping that the ongoing series unfolds in a similar manner as well.