VVS Laxman Feels Lack Of Focus Led To Rohit Sharma's Dismissal In The First Innings Against England

Former Indian middle-order batsman VVS Laxman has opened up on Rohit Sharma’s dismissal on day two of the first Test against England in Nottingham. Rohit Sharma was the first wicket to fall for India on day two as England got the breakthrough after a lengthy toil in the morning session. However, VVS Laxman remained unimpressed as the opener failed to convert another start, opining that lack of focus might have caused him to throw his wicket away.

Rohit Sharma’s pattern of getting starts and not converting those into big scores repeated in yet another overseas Test inning. On day two of the first Test in Nottingham, the right-handed batsman had combated some challenging conditions and looked good for a big score. However, the last delivery before lunch saw Sharma mistime a hook shot off a bouncer from Ollie Robinson, resulting in Sam Curran taking a simple catch. He faced 107 balls for his 36 and departed after putting on 97 runs for the opening stand with KL Rahul.

VVS Laxman opined that we saw a similar thing happening in Brisbane when Rohit Sharma departed after laying a solid foundation with Shubman Gill for a big chase. The 47-year old said the same thing transpired in both the innings of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. Laxman stated that Rohit did all the hard work and got out in both innings against the Kiwis due to poor judgement.

“It happened in Brisbane. In the second innings in Brisbane when he was looking to capitalize on the wonderful foundation he and Shubman Gill gave, chasing the big target. We saw in both the innings of the World Test Championship final. He did all the hard work, especially when the conditions were suitable for the New Zealand bowlers and then he plays the ball, which is wide outside the off stump. In the second innings, he got out leaving the ball, which he was supposed to play,” Laxman told ESPN Cricinfo.

I think he will definitely convert these starts into a big score in the coming innings: VVS Laxman

Though VVS Laxman named it as a pattern, the 47-year old felt Rohit applied himself well and said he wanted to prove himself at the top order. The cricketer-turned-commentator feels the big scores would soon follow and believes that a lapse of concentration due to a missed run-out chance could have contributed to Rohit’s poor shot. Laxman observed there were a couple of instances of misunderstandings between the two openers.

“It can be termed as a pattern, but he would be pleased with the way he applied himself. He wants to prove himself he is a capable opening batsman even in overseas conditions. I think he will definitely convert these starts into a big score in the coming innings. I feel that the lapse of concentration would have happened because of that run-out chance that went begging. Since morning, there were a few misunderstandings between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. So, maybe, lack of focus led him to play that shot,” he added.

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