Rohit Sharma shown Jasprit Bumrah mirror as captaincy debate heats up

Former Australian cricketer Simon Katich criticized Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for his captaincy following the humiliating loss in the second Test in Adelaide. Simon Katich credited Jasprit Bumrah for the Indian cricket team's victory in the Perth Test, where Rohit Sharma missed out due to personal reasons.

Australia defeated India by 10 wickets in the second Test match at the Adelaide Oval on December 8. The Pat Cummins-led team leveled the BGT 2024-25 series at 1-1. This was Rohit's fourth consecutive loss as captain of the Indian Test team. Notably, India had won the opening Test in Perth by 295 runs.

Rohit Sharma Needs to Be More Proactive With His Quicks – Simon Katich

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo on Around The Wicket, Simon Katich said that India missed an opportunity to capitalize on Australia's early struggles during the second Test. Katich said that the bowling lengths in Adelaide were shorter and wider. He said that Rohit should have been more proactive.

"When you compare the two results, obviously in Perth Rohit Sharma missed out, and I thought Bumrah's captaincy and particularly the use of his bowlers and the length they bowled was far superior to what we saw in Adelaide. I think in Perth on late day one, when Australia was 7 for 67, India attacked the stumps and bowled a much fuller and straighter length," Katich said.

"Whereas when you look at the pitch maps from Adelaide, particularly on the night of day one, they were a lot shorter and wider and around the 7-8 meter mark. So they missed a trick. Rohit Sharma was at first slip. He saw it all unfold. He needs to be a bit more proactive with his quicks when that's happening because Australia got out of jail in that session only being one down and as a result went on to win the test," he added.

"They missed a trick! Rohit Sharma was at first slip - he saw it all unfold."

Simon Katich says Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy & use of bowlers in Perth was "far superior to what we saw in Adelaide".#AroundTheWicket @ESPNAusNZ @ESPNcricinfohttps://t.co/DICrZyCy9f pic.twitter.com/3IG09kBxVC

— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) December 11, 2024

Rohit Sharma Should Stay At Six - Simon Katich

Simon Katich believes that Rohit should remain at number six in India's batting order. He said that KL Rahul played a key role in the Perth Test and noted that Rahul has the ability to make the Australian bowlers bowl multiple spells.

“I think he should stay at six, and the reason I say that is because I thought KL Rahul was India’s best player in Perth. Even though Jaiswal got the 160, I thought Rahul set them up in both innings. And whilst he missed out in Adelaide, I think that’s where Australia made some really good inroads because I think at the moment he looks like the player who could really hurt Australia," Katich added.

"The reason I say that is he can wear down this Australian attack and make them bowl multiple spells, and that’s what we saw in Perth, particularly in the second innings. I think Rohit Sharma should stay at six, and he can be a really good aggressive player in the middle order.”

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