Rohit Sharma found clueless at multiple occasions in fielding in Adelaide. This is fourth straight Test India have lost under him. Does he lack killer instinct?
The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024 at Adelaide, which proved to be the shortest test between India and Australia in terms of balls bowled, was nothing short of a nightmare for the visitors. After their emphatic win in Perth, India succumbed to a crushing 10-wicket defeat within just two days and a session.
Central to the post-match discussion was the questionable leadership of Rohit Sharma. His captaincy decisions during Australia’s innings raised serious questions about India’s approach, particularly in the critical morning session on Day 2.
A tale of missed opportunities
The Men in Blue had a chance to build on their early breakthroughs on Day 2. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Steven Smith and opener Nathan McSweeney in quick time. However, what followed was a baffling sequence of bowling changes and defensive field settings that allowed Australia to wrest control of the match.
One of the most puzzling decisions was the India captain’s reluctance to persist with Bumrah, the team’s strike bowler. Bumrah bowled just four overs in the morning session, despite being in rhythm that troubled the Australia batters.
Similarly, Ravichandran Ashwin, who has a stellar record in Adelaide, was underutilised. After bowling just one over on Day 1, Ashwin was kept out of the attack for the first 14 overs on Day 2. By the time he was introduced, Australia’s Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne had already set the tone with their aggressive intent.
Moreover, the choice of a third seamer, Harshit Rana, also backfired. Rana was seen bowling back of length deliveries rather than bowling on consistent lines and lengths and as a result he leaked runs, including a 17-run over to Travis Head. Rather than deploying a short-ball strategy to Head—known for his vulnerability against bouncers—Rohit allowed bowlers to persist with a line on the pads, making scoring easy for the Aussie left-hander, who collected 48 runs from the mid-wicket region to fine-leg.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 2nd Test, Day 3: Australia maintain clean sheet in Adelaide D/N Tests, win 8th time
Defensive captaincy in a test of attacking strategies
Rohit Sharma’s lack of a clear Plan B became glaringly evident. When Head counter-attacked, instead of adopting an attacking approach with close-in fielders and aggressive bowling, the field was spread out. This defensive mindset allowed Australia to score freely, amassing 105 runs in 26 overs in the first session.
In contrast, former captain Virat Kohli was seen actively engaging with bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, offering tactical advice and rallying the troops. This visible energy contrasted sharply with Rohit’s subdued presence on the field. The usually proactive skipper seemed disengaged, and his decisions lacked the sharpness required in high-pressure scenarios.
Lessons from Perth ignored
India’s dominant win in Perth was built on relentless pressure, attacking fields, and smart bowling rotations. However, these principles were inexplicably abandoned in Adelaide. The pink-ball conditions demanded proactive strategies, but India allowed Australia to dictate terms.
During Australia’s first innings, the commentators emphasised on the point that India attacked the stumps drastically less compared to the Perth Test. On the other hand, Australia kept on bowling off and fourth stump line throughout the match until they started a barrage of bouncers in the later half of India’s second innings, the trick which they missed during the Perth Test.
Jatin Paranjpe, renowned sports journalist, also talked about Rohit’s captaincy. “The Indian captain has looked a little “off” in this test match. Team needs him at his astute best, match is at a pivotal point,” Jatin wrote on his X handle.
Read More: BGT 2024-25: Bumrah bowled with brilliance & captained with craft in Perth
Looking ahead to Gabba
With the series now level at 1-1, India must regroup ahead of the third Test at Gabba. Rohit Sharma, in particular, needs to revisit his captaincy approach.
An aggressive mindset, smarter bowling changes, and better utilisation of resources will be crucial. The Gabba Test is not just an opportunity to regain momentum but also a chance for Rohit to silence his critics and reaffirm his leadership credentials.
The series is far from over, but the lessons from Adelaide are clear. Test cricket rewards boldness and precision—qualities that were glaringly absent in India’s performance under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. It’s now up to the team to rediscover the fire that saw them conquer Perth and channel it into the remaining matches of this high-stakes series.
Read More: Siraj found back his rhythm in Perth; What he needs to do consistently in BGT 2024-25?
