Rohit Sharma has put himself ‘in that doubt’ by not opening, feels Cheteshwar Pujara | Cricket News – Times of India

Rohit Sharma (Photo Source: X)

Captain Rohit Sharma‘s woes with the bat extended on Tuesday, when he was dismissed for just 10 in India’s first innings of the Brisbane Test at the Gabba.
Rohit, who joined the team after the opening match of the five-Test series in Perth, selflessly decided to move down to the middle-order as KL Rahul had regained his form as an opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Talking about that move, Cheteshwar Pujara said that it has added to Rohit’s struggles of late.
Rohit was dismissed by Pat Cummins. The Australia captain induced an outside edge off his opposite number’s bat, which was safely pouched by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
“It wasn’t a length where you can drive,” said Pujara talking about Rohit’s shot that led to his dismissal. “We have seen that even a fuller-length ball is hard to drive. He kind of tried to punch that ball. He should have defended that ball, allowing the ball to come to him rather than going for that ball. And I think the tough part is he hasn’t been amongst the runs, and that’s where the pressure is,” Pujara said, talking on Star Sports.
Rohit has been struggling ever since the Test series at home against New Zealand and Bangladesh before his arrival in Australia, which was after the first Test. Against Bangladesh, Rohit aggregated just 42 runs in four innings and against New Zealand 91 runs in six innings.
“He has been opening the innings, now he’s batting at number 6 (in Australia). That is for the team, but I still feel that when you are so much used to opening the innings and when you have to wait, then you put yourself in that doubt. I mean, it doesn’t help you when you’re opening innings and you suddenly start batting at number 6,” he added.
Rohit’s three innings in the middle order, two in Adelaide and one at the Gabba, read 3, 6, and 10.
Meanwhile, an unbeaten 39-run partnership for the last wicket between Akash Deep (27*) and Jasprit Bumrah (10*) helped India go past the follow-on target of 246 to finish day four at 252 for 9 to boost their hopes of drawing the match.