VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman. Credit: PTI

Former India batsman, VVS Laxman demands India’s two senior batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane to step up in the second match after both the right-handers get out for cheap scores in the opening Test of the series against England in Chennai.

Rohit scored 6 and 12 and Rahane scored 1 and 0 in the first Test as India succumbed to a 227-run heavy loss – India’s only second home Test defeat since 2013.

VVS Laxman opines that Ajinkya Rahane didn’t seem prepared to face James Anderson, who castled the Indian vice-captain with a masterful reverse-swinging delivery sending Rahane’s off-stump cartwheeling. Laxman observed Rahane was not at his best footwork as his bat hit the pad creating a gap through which the ball fizzed.

James Anderson, Ajinkya Rahane
James Anderson cleans up Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo: BCCI)

“I want to see commitment from Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in the next match, that they should win or save the match,” VVS Laxman said while speaking to Star Sports.

“The way Ajinkya Rahane got out in the second innings, I didn’t feel he was ready for the fight. It was known that Anderson will be reversing the ball; you can get out to a good ball, but if your footwork is not correct, and you don’t come into the right position, that too at the start of the innings, it makes you feel sad. So the way Ajinkya Rahane got out, he will be disappointed,” he added.

Rohit will be disappointed with his first-innings dismissal: VVS Laxman

The 43-year-old opines that opener Rohit Sharma will be unhappy with the way he got out in the first innings to Jofra Archer – outside-edging the ball seaming away with a tame poke outside the off-stump to the wicket-keeper Jos Buttler. He says that Rohit needs to be more cautious and leave the balls – as he did against South Africa in the home series – while facing the new ball.

India, England, Rohit Sharma, Jack Leach
Rohit Sharma [Image Credits: Twitter]

“Rohit Sharma will be disappointed the way he got in the first innings. As a batsman you know where the bowlers are going to attack you, what is not your strength. We know Rohit Sharma has to play a little more carefully outside off-stump at the start of his innings.

“He was ready to leave deliveries when he opened against South Africa for the first time. He got an outside edge in the first innings of this Test match. So he should be ready for the balls to be bowled at that length, especially Archer with the new ball, because he gets extra bounce,” VVS Laxman further added.

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