'Age catching up with Rohit', opines Gavaskar as Indian skipper's poor form continues

Melbourne: Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar raised concerns over Rohit Sharma’s diminishing reflexes, suggesting that age might be catching up with the Indian skipper after his lazy dismissal in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia on Friday. 

Gavaskar highlighted flaws in the 37-year-old’s footwork, which have become more apparent during his struggles in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rohit’s decision to return to the opening slot in the fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, partnering with Yashasvi Jaiswal and relegating KL Rahul to No. 3, failed to yield results.

Facing just 12 deliveries, Rohit managed only three runs before falling to his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins in India’s first innings at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Attempting a half-pull shot to a short-of-length delivery outside off, Rohit mistimed the stroke, sending a top-edge to Scott Boland at mid-on. The shot, described by Gavaskar as an uncharacteristic lapse, underscored Rohit’s recent struggles against Cummins.

“That’s a shot that he normally plays. The half-pull off the front foot. I think he probably got in two minds whether to go for the proper pull shot or not and then ended up just trying to tap it like catching practice. But that’s what happens when you have a gap, when you’re 36, 37 years old and you have a long gap between playing cricket,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports on Rohit’s dismissal.

Cummins has now dismissed Rohit seven times in Test cricket, further establishing himself as a nemesis. Over their encounters, the Australian skipper has conceded only 127 runs against Rohit across 199 deliveries - a stark statistic that underlines the Indian captain’s inability to dominate the Aussie quick.

“That is the reason why you’re seeing that there is probably not the same sort of footwork as you would expect, because your body is such as you get older. It reacts just a little bit slower. You know, the mind is there. Everything the mind tells you, but the body just doesn’t do that. So, if you’re being continuous at the age of 37, regularly, no problem. Because you know your bat-speed, everything. The moment you have a break, you must be very, very careful, very, very mindful,” he added. IANS

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