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Indian captain Rohit Sharma‘s struggles in Test cricket persisted as he fell prey to debutant England spinner Shoaib Bashir in the early stages of Day 1 of the ongoing second Test in Visakhapatnam.
Cautious start from Team India openers
Winning the toss, the Indian opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 not out) and Rohit adopted a cautious approach on a seemingly benign surface. The duo successfully navigated through the initial hour of play, emphasizing the value of preserving their wickets as they added 40 runs for the first wicket in 17.3 overs. However, Rohit’s resilience came to an end through a soft dismissal.
Rohit Sharma falls prey to debutant Shoaib Bashir
Bashir, drafted into the playing XI as a replacement for the injured Jack Leach, made an impact in the 12th over after Joe Root and James Anderson initiated the proceedings with the new ball.
In only his fourth over, Bashir’s off-break deceived the well-settled Rohit. Bashir maintained a tight line against the right-handed batter, affording him minimal room to maneuver. Rohit, attempting a glance against the turning ball, ended up guiding it straight into the hands of leg slip fielder Ollie Pope. Rohit departed for 14 runs off 41 deliveries, with no boundaries in his innings, restrained by Anderson and the finger spinners.
Also READ: IND vs ENG: Here’s why India pacer Mohammed Siraj not playing the 2nd Test against England
Rohit’s Vishakhapatnam legacy takes a hit
Rohit has consistently demonstrated an impressive track record in Vishakhapatnam across different formats. This venue holds particular significance as it witnessed his initiation as an opener in red-ball cricket. In the 2019 Test against South Africa at this ground, Rohit registered twin centuries, solidifying his position in the longest format of the game. Nevertheless, the streak of scoring a second consecutive hundred at this venue concluded today with his dismissal.
With Shubman Gill departing after a brisk 34, Team India is in a rebuilding phase, currently positioned at 103/2 after 31 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer at the crease
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Rohit was playing the young newbi spinners like they were lobbing grenades at him.
Trying to bat like Pujara. But everyone has to know their Svadharma and play according to it. Being ultra defensive is not the only option against reckless disregard. Our chaps have forgotten…
— Arun Krishnan 🇮🇳 (@ArunKrishnan_) February 2, 2024
In a nutshell Rohit Sharma is a Dara hua captain and his fear is reflecting upon the team. I hope someone will bail things out.#INDvsENG
— Bikram Pratap Singh (@bikram123) February 2, 2024
Can a spin debutante do better than pick Rohit Sharma in India as his first wicket! A more substantive question: where and when did this Indian team lost the fearlessness that made them world beaters?
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) February 2, 2024
Once again, Rohit has thrown away his wicket easily.
Can't believe out of all players how come He always falls for the trap in test cricket be it on short balls or this.
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) February 2, 2024
Rohit bottled easy 150+ score that has been served on his plate 😔
— H (@crictologist) February 2, 2024
Bache ne out kar diya Rohit ko… really poor start by Captain again… I was expecting a huge score from him today… rohit is also the senior most…hopefully 2nd innings he will fire #RohitSharma #IndVsEng @indiatvnews #Indiatvcricket youtube
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) February 2, 2024
Karma is denying you entry to a nation state and promptly removing that nation’s captain for your first ever Test wicket… innit? 😬😆🫣 #INDvENG
— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) February 2, 2024
Rohit Sharma is done…..how do you get out to someone who has taken only 10 wickets in his first class career
— yang goi (@GongR1ght) February 2, 2024
Rohit can't even score a boundary on those shit balls and gave his wicket to that debutant Bashir
— Arnab Majumder (@ArnabMa43591316) February 2, 2024
That's what fear of losing do to you. When you're 1-0 down as a home team you tend to play too defensively. That was the downfall of #Rohit. His natural game is attacking. He should focus on that. This ultra defensive approach is never going to help him. #ENGvIND #CricketTwitter
— SKM | Delightful Odisha (@skmishra86) February 2, 2024
There is reason rohit will not play 100 test for india , no one else is responsible for that apart from him.
— Vishal (@Fanpointofviews) February 2, 2024
Shoaib Bashir, with a mere 13 games experience, gets a gift from our selfless Rohit Sharma in what seems like a regular wicket. Post-World Cup, Rohit's selfless approach persists, He appears a bit confused in his batting approach. pic.twitter.com/WZicrmQc3V
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) February 2, 2024
Rohit Sharma moved up to open the batting to escape having to start his innings against miserly niggling finger spinners. And now ENG open the bowling with 3 different spinners in the first session of the Test match… 😂
— cricketingview (@cricketingview) February 2, 2024
Rohit Sharma in Last 7 innings at home :
33 , 32 , 12 , 12 , 35 , 24 , 39
Rohit Sharma in SA in last tour :
5 , 8 , 39 , 17
He can't bat long in this format there's no use for these runs should retire from this format ASAP 👍#INDvsENGTest pic.twitter.com/0pzPqGBLY6
— Saurav. (@saurav_viratian) February 2, 2024
Personal milestone overrated hai isiliye Rohit Sharma jaldi out hogaya pic.twitter.com/4VlIWLxrw3
— ` (@musafir_tha_yr) February 2, 2024
That has got to be the softest dismissal considering the situation.
Field set with a trap against a debutant and Rohit, the captain just nudges it to him. #INDvsENGTest
— paalpaayasam (@paalpaayasam) February 2, 2024
Another poor knock from Rohit. The one thing he was very good at home was playing spin but he has struggled with that too so far this series. With no experience in the middle order he was crucial for India at the top. On this pitch he should have made this start count. #INDvENG
— Giri Subramanian (Off Work) (@giri26) February 2, 2024
Rohit scored 161 in that Chennai pitch 3 years back.
not sure what to make of this innings. was very late and timid with his attacking options.
— Shri (@strangeratlife) February 2, 2024
There’s worse things that can happen than having Rohit Sharma as your first wicket in international test cricket 👌 #INDvsENGTest
— Ste (@Hurrikeen) February 2, 2024
Rohit Sharma playing with 33 sr at home. Sorry bt that's not him. And even that against this bowling attack.
— Gautam Jha (@GautamJ18051300) February 2, 2024
Runs are overrated so selfless Rohit Sharma decided to go back to pavillion pic.twitter.com/oVnyvQjibQ
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) February 2, 2024
Rebuilding phase
Currently in a rebuilding phase after the dismissals of Rohit and Shubman Gill, Team India finds themselves at 103/2 after 31 overs. Gill, who played a brisk knock of 34, also departed before the lunch. The batting duo of Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer ( 4 not out) is now at the crease, aiming to steady the innings in the second session.
