Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed by right-arm fast bowler Lahiru Kumara in the first Test match against Sri Lanka, played in Mohali. Kumara’s short ball did the trick as Rohit’s mistimed shot was eventually caught by the fielder at long leg. In a situation like this, former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar has one suggestion for the Indian opening batter.
Gavaskar speaks
According to Gavaskar, the Indian skipper “has got to think about it.”
“He has got to think about it. You can argue that it is a productive shot but that is not the only shot. He has got so many others. Now every bowler who has a little bit of pace will fancy his chances against him saying, 'I don't mind going for a couple of sixes or boundaries but there will be an opportunity because he hits the ball in the air',” Gavaskar was quoted while talking to the host broadcaster.
“So he has got to work the percentages out. If he still thinks that that the percentages are working in his favour, then go on playing but at the moment, they aren't working in his favour. So maybe he should put it in cold storage till he gets to 80, 90, 100,” the 72-year-old former Indian skipper further added.
Good batting show
In the first Test match, Rohit was dismissed on the fifth delivery of the ninth over of the first innings. In that over, the Indian skipper had smashed two back-to-back boundaries. But on the fifth ball of the over his innings came to an end. Rohit had managed to score 29 runs off 28 balls. His innings was comprised of 6 boundaries.
The hosts eventually had managed to 574/8 (declared) in first innings. Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja played a terrific innings of 175 runs off 228 deliveries. He had smashed 17 boundaries and 3 sixes.
In reply, the visitors were bundled out within a paltry total of 174 runs. Jadeja again did a terrific job as he picked up five wickets, conceding just 41 runs in 13 overs.
In second innings, the all-rounder showed his stunning bowling skills once again as he scalped four wickets to restrict Sri Lanka within just 178 runs.
Eventually, Indian team had secured a victory by an innings and 222 runs in the first Test match.
