AUS vs IND, 2nd Test | Captain Rohit Sharma needs to be more involved, more animated: Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has said that India need captain Rohit Sharma to lead from the front if they are to recover from the defeat in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide. Shastri observed that Rohit appeared deflated as captain, particularly after failing with the bat in both innings of the pink-ball match.

AUS vs IND, pink-ball Test Day 3 Highlights

Rohit Sharma returned to the playing XI after missing the first Test in Perth. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah led India to a commanding 295-run victory at the Optus Stadium. Despite being bowled out for 150 in their first innings, India staged a remarkable comeback with the ball, dismissing Australia for 104 and setting an imposing target for the hosts.

However, India lacked energy in the field during the pink-ball Test, squandering the advantage of winning the toss and batting first as they were bowled out for 180.

Rohit sacrificed his spot at the top of the order to allow KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to continue opening. However, he struggled at No. 6, managing just nine runs across two innings.

“That’s the reason I want him at the top. That’s where he can be aggressive and expressive. Just thought he was a little too subdued, just seeing his body language. The fact that he didn’t make runs, I don’t think there was enough on the field there. I just wanted to see him more involved, and a little more animated. You still have to believe that you can bounce back in this series. You have seen with these two teams, that the counter-punch is almost immediate. It’s happened over the last 10 years. You lose one, you win the next, but you have to have the belief,” Ravi Shastri told the broadcasters during the second Test.

India were thoroughly outplayed, suffering a 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide after failing to cross the 200-run mark in either innings.

The Indian team faltered with both bat and ball, allowing Australia to seize momentum in their first innings and post a formidable total of 357. Travis Head launched a blistering assault on Day 2 after Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney successfully navigated the challenging twilight period on Day 1.

LEARN FROM AUSTRALIA, SHASTRI TELLS INDIA

Rohit Sharma’s captaincy decisions came under scrutiny, particularly in his use of bowling resources. R Ashwin was underutilised on Day 1, and Jasprit Bumrah was not brought on at key moments to take advantage of critical situations.

Ravi Shastri suggested that India should take a lesson from Australia’s approach and reflect on their weaknesses to prepare for the third Test, which begins in Brisbane on 14th December.

“I like the choice of words by Pat Cummins in Perth. He said we weren’t good enough, but we weren’t as bad as the scoreboard showed. The reason I say good choice of words is because it wasn’t about what people said or what was written about, it was about what the scoreboard showed. I think India can take a leaf out of that.

“It would mean Rahul would go back to the middle order. But that’s what he was going to do if Rohit Sharma had started from the first Test itself,” Shastri said.

Tune In