India skipper Rohit Sharma’s poor form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become a major talking point, with cricket experts expressing concerns over its potential impact on both his batting and captaincy. Former cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Harbhajan Singh have weighed in on the issue, offering detailed perspectives on the challenges Rohit faces and the importance of him regaining his rhythm.
In the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, Rohit managed only nine runs across two innings as India suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat. Speaking about Rohit’s performance, Cheteshwar Pujara emphasized the need for the Indian captain to return to form quickly, as it could influence his leadership on the field.
“When a captain is out of form, it affects his captaincy as well. Rohit Sharma is an experienced player and knows how to score runs, but he needs to focus on getting his first 20 or 30 runs steadily. A good start is essential for him to rebuild his confidence and convert it into a big score,” Pujara told Star Sports.
Harbhajan Singh echoed similar concerns, pointing out that a captain’s decision-making and confidence are directly linked to their own performance. “When a player scores runs, they make better decisions on the field. No matter how big a player is, they are always worried about their performance. If Rohit can score runs, he will think better and do better things as a captain,” Harbhajan said.
Rohit’s form has been under scrutiny since the first Test of the series, where he struggled with the bat. In the second Test, Australia’s dominant bowling attack, led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, further exposed the Indian skipper’s vulnerabilities. His poor performance added to the pressure after the team’s earlier collapse against a moving pink ball.
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Experts believe that Rohit’s form is critical for India’s chances in the remaining matches of the series, which stands tied at 1-1. Both Pujara and Harbhajan agree that the captain’s ability to lead from the front will play a pivotal role in shaping India’s performance.