IND vs SA: "On Days Like This Captain Needs To..." - Rohit Sharma After 1st Test Loss

Indian captain Rohit Sharma made a bold statement after the loss against South Africa in the first Test in Centurion. He admitted that there won’t be always happy days for the skipper.

Rohit Sharma as a captain didn’t have a great outing in the first Test against South Africa in Centurion. The senior opening batter failed both as a batter as well as the leader in the game and it was one of the main reasons behind the big loss.

Rohit Sharma’s moves as a leader didn’t work out as almost everything he touched backfired. The bowling changes that he made didn’t work well and also with the bat he didn’t have a great outing.

The Indian captain Rohit Sharma scored 5 runs in the first innings and then bagged a duck in the second innings. The other batters around him didn’t bat well too as they got out on low totals in both the innings.

Following the loss in the first Test against South Africa, Rohit Sharma was criticised a lot for his leadership. Many have started to criticise him and there are calls even to replace him as a captain of the team.

But Rohit Sharma knows that there won’t be always days in his favour. He added that on days like these he as a captain needs to stand around the team. He added that it’s important for them to forget this loss and focus on the next game in Cape Town. He explained:

“It’s not always going to be happy days for the captain but on days like this captain needs to stand around the team. It’s important to leave a loss like this here and not take it back to Cape Town.”

IND vs SA: Jasprit Bumrah didn’t get the support he wanted – Rohit Sharma

India gave away 408 runs with the ball and it was a poor outing for them. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, no other bowler gets going at all. The pacer picked four wickets whereas others gave away too many runs and couldn’t keep on the pressure he built.

Rohit Sharma admitted that they gave away too many runs. He praised Jasprit Bumrah for his heroics with the ball and added that he didn’t get the support that he wanted. He explained:

“This was not a 400-run wicket and we gave too many runs. We sprayed the ball all around, but it happens. One can’t depend on one particular bowler (Bumrah), the other three pacers also needed to perform their roles, we could learn from how South Africa bowled. 

“Bumrah bowled well and we all know his quality. All he wanted was a bit of support which he didn’t get. That happens. All three tried hard, bending their backs but didn’t happen the way we wanted to. But games like these teaches you a lot as to what you want to do as a bowling unit.” 

South Africa has taken a lead of 1-0 in the series and now the second game will be played on 3rd January in Cape Town. Rohit Sharma would be hoping to make a strong comeback with both bat as well as captain in the next game.