Like day three, India began day four on a disappointing note as they lost captain Rohit Sharma early. The hitman thrilled the crowd with a few boundaries but was eventually dismissed by Pat Cummins.
On the third ball of the 24th over, Sharma once again nicked a seam-up delivery from Cummins, and Alex Carey safely collected it behind the stumps. This underwhelming innings has once more placed Sharma under many questions, as he continues to struggle with the bat, prompting fans to question his spot in the Indian lineup.
Rohit has batted in three innings in the ongoing series, scoring only 19 runs at an average of 6.33. His struggles continued from the New Zealand series, where he managed 91 runs in six innings with a dismal average of 15.17.
Amid mounting criticism, Rohit’s recent gesture after his dismissal in the third Test has fueled retirement rumors. Notably, while returning to the dugout, the hitman placed his gloves near the dugout, leaving fans worried.
Rohit Sharma left his gloves in front of the dugout. Signs of retirement?#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/UPCWy0A2Uu
— @vipin mishra 🇮🇳 (@viplnt) December 17, 2024
Earlier, Rohit Sharma bid farewell to the T20I format after clinching the T20 World Cup, and speculations were rife suggesting he would retire from ODIs following next year’s Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, Rohit is facing considerable pressure as his poor form in the longer format persists. In the past 13 matches, he has managed just one score above 50, with the Indian captain also falling short on home turf against Bangladesh and New Zealand, worsening the situation further.
On the other hand, Australia are in control of the Gabba Test after posting a huge total of 445 runs in their first innings. India couldn’t perform well in reply and is struggling at 213/8 on Day 4.
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
