India’s Test deputy Rohit Sharma was seen shadow batting at the crease during the drinks break on Day 4 of the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Rohit cheerfully did some shadow practice while changing ends after an over. Unlike Steve Smith – who was accused of scuffing up the area around the batting crease during the third Test in Sydney while Rishabh Pant was batting – there was no marking of the guard from Rohit.
“It’s very important for all those who thought Steve Smith was tampering the pitch and he had some kind of malicious intent, Rohit Sharma has done the exact same thing as Steve Smith did,” former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said on air. “In fact, there’s a step with the right foot.”
Relive the moment here:
You see it’s not only @stevesmith49 who shadow bats at the crease when he’s in the field! #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/7MEGcA6pf0
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) January 18, 2021
https://twitter.com/SridharBhamidi/status/1351019509646295042
Rohit was in fine catching form on Monday as the vice-captain took a sharp at second slip to dismiss the first innings centurion Marnus Labuschagne cheaply.
Mohammed Siraj (5/73), Shardul Thakur (4/61) shined with the ball and bundled out Australia on 294 in second innings.
India were four without loss at stumps while chasing a mammoth 328 run target to seal the series.
