“Since Rohit has become the captain, the intent and DNA of the team have become attack-oriented. The captain himself is leading from the front.
Since the 2023 World Cup, we have seen our players go out and attack the bowlers from the start,” said former India player Jatin Paranjape ahead of India’s Test series against New Zealand.
The new attacking philosophy in the Indian cricket team is not entirely new. Under Virat Kohli’s tenure, India was extremely aggressive on the field, particularly with the ball. However, under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, India has taken it a notch higher and has tried to play extremely aggressive cricket with the bat as well. The Bangladesh Test match in Kanpur was a perfect example, where India batted at 8 runs per over to force a result in a rain-affected Test match. Captain with a rapid 23 off 11 balls-an innings more familiar to T20 cricket than Test.
This attacking approach came full circle when India was bowled out for just 46 runs in the very next Test match against a quality New Zealand bowling unit in pace-friendly conditions. Indian batters faltered, trying aggressive and sometimes needless shots. Once again, the focal point was Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain. His fortunes in both innings were contrasting stories. In the first, he tried to attack Tim Southee and threw away his wicket after scoring just 2 runs. However, in the second innings, Rohit scored an aggressive 52 off 63 balls. While many lauded Rohit for setting the tone for the Indian innings, one could argue that he missed an opportunity to score big runs in Bengaluru.
ROHIT’S INCONSISTENCIES WITH BAT
Rohit Sharma’s inconsistency with the bat in Test cricket is not new. In 2024, out of the 18 innings he has played, Rohit has scored 50 or more runs in only 4 of them. Out of these 18 innings, he has scored in single digits in 6, including the first innings of the Pune Test, where Tim Southee once again uprooted his off stump. Currently, Rohit has an average of 32.14 from 18 innings in 2024, significantly below his career average of 43.19. While he has approached most innings with aggressive intent, his strike rate of 66.62 is arguably not a favourable trade-off in Test cricket.
Since taking over the captaincy from Virat Kohli in 2022, Rohit’s average has been much lower than it was from 2017 to 2021. The opener who once gave India incredible starts against Australia and England away from home has not consistently looked to strike at 100 SR. For instance, in 2021, Rohit averaged over 47 with a strike rate of 48. While the current brand of Indian cricket is entertaining, it does not provide the stability needed at the top of the order. With the batting unit undergoing a transition period, India may need Rohit Sharma’s assurance more than ever.
INTENT CAN COME LATER
If India is to perform well in Australia and later in the World Test Championship Final, they might need the 2021 version of Rohit Sharma, who was willing to let go of aggressive intent at the start of his innings. In 2021, Rohit played 21 innings without a single duck, with his worst performances coming against Australia in Brisbane and England in Chennai, where he scored in single digits. When Rohit wasn’t scoring runs, he would consume deliveries to ensure that the No. 3 and No. 4 batters were well protected from the moving ball.
One could argue that if Rohit were to show his aggressive side, he could do so a bit later, once the ball’s shine had been removed. This method has proven effective for him and the Indian team in the past. Perhaps India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir puts it best: “My learning has been simple – it has been all about winning. We are in a profession where there can be only one winner. We try to play fair, we try to play hard, and we try to come back in a winning dressing room and a happy dressing room.”
Rohit Sharma will have only a couple more chances before India flies out to Australia. One can only hope he realises that intent-his hallmark-needs to be grounded in solid defense, setting up India for success in the World Test Championship.
