India vs Australia Live Score: ‘Rohit Sharma has four innings to save his Test career’ – says Monty Panesar
Rohit Sharma is undoubtedly going through a tough twilight period of his cricket career both as a captain as well as a batter. He will look to resurrect it by possibly returning to his customary position as an opener in the ongoing Melbourne Test in hope of runs that help him regain confidence and poise as a leader.
With India’s No. 3 Shubman Gill dropped from the eleven for an extra spin-bowling all-rounder in the form of Washington Sundar, KL Rahul will in all probability play the role of one-down batter, allowing Rohit to open again in Melbourne, and in the last Test at Sydney. Those four possible innings, believes former England spinner Monty Panesar, will be make-or-break knocks for the Indian captain’s Test career.
“I think that (to open batting again) is the only option for Rohit,” said Panesar, talking to Timesofindia.com from London. “To be honest, he’s got four innings to save his Test career. If he doesn’t perform that well, I think he will probably retire as well.”
If that happens, it will be the second high-profile retirement of the series, with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin hanging his boots after the third Test in Brisbane, quitting international cricket with immediate effect.
If India fail to qualify for the World Test Championship final, their next Test assignment will be the five-Test tour of England in June-July 2025. For Rohit to play that, if he wants to, Panesar believes he will have to fire in Melbourne and Sydney.
“…With the five Test matches in England, I think Rohit should probably take the ownership and say ‘right, you know, (in) overseas Test matches I have got to perform like I do…be aggressive, take it on’,” said Panesar.
“If he does that, I think he will probably carry on as captain. But if he fails, I think he will be the first one to stand up and say, ‘guys, I think I am done, and you have got to move on with the new team’. Especially with five Test matches in England, you have got to build a new side.”
The five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy stands at 1-1 after three Tests, which means a win in Melbourne will ensure that India won’t lose the series and thus remain the title-holders. But Australia have done well to reach 311 for 6 at stumps on day one.
If India can take the last four wickets quickly to wrap up the Australian first innings for under 350 and then the visitors’ top order bats well, it will be game on.
“It’s a big, big innings for him (Rohit) in Melbourne…I think especially that first innings is a big one for him. He’s got to show good intent and start well because Australia are going to come out not holding back now,” said the 42-year-old former left-arm spinner, who played 50 Tests for England.
