It Can Be Termed As A Pattern - VVS Laxman Says Lack Of Focus Leads To Rohit Sharma's Dismissal After Getting A Start

Former India batsman VVS Laxman opined that Rohit Sharma tends to lose focus in the middle of his innings, and despite getting his eye in, he, therefore, couldn’t convert his starts.

On Day 2 of the Trent Bridge Test against England, the opener, along with KL Rahul gave India a terrific start, chiseling down 97 runs off the opposition’s total of 183. But at the stroke of lunch, Sharma pulled Ollie Robinson straight to fine leg. England got an opening and then capitalized on it in the post-lunch session as India collapsed from 97/0 to 112/4 before rain stopped play.

VVS Laxman pointed out that there was some misunderstanding between Rohit and Rahul before the former threw away his wicket, and that may have led to him losing his focus.

“The pull shot is one of the most productive ones for Rohit Sharma. He does not get into a conventional position, which is why a majority of his pull shots end up going in the air. I just feel the concentration lapse would have happened because of that run-out chance,” VVS Laxman said on ESPNCricinfo.

“And, since that morning session started, there were at least two or three misunderstandings between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. So maybe, lack of focus led him to play that shot. But when you can pull like the way Rohit Sharma does, you have to back your natural instincts… Unfortunately, he just holed out to the fielder in the deep.”

It can be termed as a pattern: VVS Laxman

The 46-year-old commentator recalled how previously also Sharma had got a start but couldn’t convert it into a big score. The two innings in the WTC final are of recent memory; the second innings knock against Australia in Brisbane also highlights this issue of the Indian opener.

“It happened in Brisbane. He was looking to capitalize on the wonderful foundation he and Shubman Gill laid, when they were chasing that target. We saw that in both innings of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He did all the hard work when the conditions were suitable for the New Zealand bowlers and then played at a ball that was wide outside the off stump,” he said. 

Nonetheless, VVS Laxman remains confident that soon Sharma will overcome this issue of his, and prove his detractors wrong by scoring and winning matches in overseas conditions.

“In the second innings, he got out leaving a ball, which he was supposed to play. It can be termed as a pattern. Having said that, Rohit Sharma will be pleased with the way he applied himself. He wants to prove that he is a more than capable batsman in overseas conditions. I think he will definitely convert these starts to big scores in the coming innings,” the former cricketer further stated.

India will start Day 3 trailing by 58 runs with half-centurion KL Rahul and new batsman Rishabh Pant at the crease.

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