Cheteshwar Pujara analyses Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, says batter should have defended that ball

India’s veteran Cheteshwar Pujara has shed light on Rohit Sharma’s dismissal after the Indian captain was dismissed cheaply on the fourth day of the third Test match against Australia on Tuesday. Rohit was dismissed by his counterpart Pat Cummins when he looked to play a drive on the off-side but could only manage an outside edge to Alex Carey.

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri on air noted that Rohit also failed to get any front-foot movement while trying to play the drive on the up.

Pujara, on the other hand, said Rohit should have looked to defend that ball against Pat Cummins.

“It wasn’t a length where you can drive. We have seen that even a fuller length ball, it’s hard to drive. He, kind of tried to punch that ball. He should have defended that ball, allowed the ball to come to him rather than going for that ball. And I think the tough part is he hasn’t been, amongst runs, and, that’s where the pressure is,” said Pujara on Star Sports.

On the other hand, Pujara noted that Rohit’s demotion from opening position to middle order isn’t an easy adjustment to make for a batter.

“He has been opening the innings, now he’s batting at number 6. That is for the team, but I still feel that when you are so much used to opening the innings and when you have to wait, then you put yourself in that doubt. I mean, it doesn’t help you when you’re opening innings and you suddenly start batting at number 6. So that you don’t get that momentum either,” he added.

Rohit has been struggling with his forms and he has scored a solitary fifty in the last 13 Test innings. 

At rain break on day four, India was 180-6, and the visitors need another 66 runs to avoid the follow-on.