Gavaskar Points Out Rohit's Declining Performance: Is Age a Factor?

Melbourne, Dec 27 (NationPress) Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar expressed his concerns about Rohit Sharma's declining reflexes, implying that age may be affecting the Indian captain after his careless dismissal in the current Boxing Day Test against Australia on Friday.

Gavaskar pointed out inconsistencies in the 37-year-old's footwork, which have become increasingly noticeable amid his difficulties in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rohit’s choice to resume the opening position in the fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, teaming up with Yashasvi Jaiswal and moving KL Rahul to No. 3, did not produce positive outcomes.

After facing just 12 balls, Rohit scored a mere three runs before being dismissed by Australian captain Pat Cummins in India's first innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Attempting a half-pull shot on a short-of-length delivery outside off, Rohit mistimed his stroke, resulting in a top-edge caught by Scott Boland at mid-on. Gavaskar described the shot as an unusual error, highlighting Rohit’s recent difficulties against Cummins.

"That's a shot he typically executes. The half-pull off the front foot. I believe he was indecisive about whether to attempt the proper pull shot or not and ended up just trying to tap it as if it were catching practice. However, this is what occurs when there is a gap, particularly when you're 36 or 37 years old and experience a long break from playing cricket," Gavaskar remarked on Star Sports regarding Rohit's dismissal.

Cummins has now dismissed Rohit seven times in Test cricket, reinforcing his status as a nemesis. Throughout their encounters, the Australian skipper has given away only 127 runs against Rohit in 199 deliveries - a striking statistic that emphasizes the Indian captain’s struggle to assert dominance over the Australian fast bowler.

"This is why you're observing what seems to be a lack of expected footwork; as we age, our bodies react at a slightly slower pace. The mind is still sharp. Everything the mind instructs you, but the body just doesn’t cooperate. So, if you're consistently active at 37, that's fine. Because you understand your bat-speed, everything. But once you take a break, you must be extremely cautious and aware," he added.

The early dismissal of Rohit exacerbated India’s challenges on a pitch that had proven to be a batting haven for Australia. KL Rahul fared no better, falling to Cummins for 24 runs.

Jaiswal offered a flicker of hope with a stylish 82 off 118 balls, including 11 boundaries and a maximum. Partnering with Kohli, Jaiswal helped stabilize India, forming a 102-run partnership for the third wicket. However, a disastrous mix-up between the two resulted in Jaiswal’s run-out, with the opener caught out as Kohli hesitated to commit to a risky single.

Kohli, who began his innings with resolve, could not build on the solid base set with Jaiswal. Once again, he succumbed to his tendency to edge deliveries outside the off-stump. Trying to drive a wide delivery from Boland, Kohli nicked it to Alex Carey behind the stumps, departing for 36.

Kohli’s dismissal, coming just seven balls after Jaiswal’s run-out, exposed India’s middle order to Australia’s relentless bowling assault. Nightwatchman Akash Deep couldn't halt the downfall, falling for a duck to Boland, who concluded the day with remarkable figures of 2 for 24.

At the end of Day 2, India stood at 164/5, trailing by 310 runs behind Australia’s colossal first-innings score of 474. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja remained at the crease, scoring six and four runs respectively.