Dinesh Karthik Offers Key Advice to Rohit Sharma Amid Form Slump
India’s captain Rohit Sharma continues to face challenges in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 during the India-Australia Test series. His struggles with form have been evident, particularly on Day 4 of the third Test at the Gabba, where he was dismissed for just 10 runs. This follows his lackluster performances in the second Test, with scores of 6 and 3 in Adelaide. Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik shared his perspective on Rohit’s ongoing difficulties and offered insightful advice to help him regain his touch.
Karthik, speaking on Cricbuzz, analyzed Rohit’s struggles, pointing to a lack of confidence that has seemingly led to technical issues in his batting. He noted that Rohit has been playing slightly ahead of his usual stance, which suggests that his current form is not at its best. Typically, Rohit is known for his ability to play close to his front pad without lunging forward. However, in recent innings, his technique has shown signs of uncertainty, which may be a reflection of his mental state.
Rohit Sharma has built a reputation for attacking cricket, especially in limited-overs formats, where his aggressive approach has redefined how the game is played. While this strategy has worked wonders in ODIs and T20Is, Karthik suggested that it might not be the ideal approach in the longer format of the game. He emphasized the need for Rohit to adapt his mindset and focus on building long innings in Test matches.
Karthik believes that Rohit has the skills and experience to overcome this slump. Having played 17 years of international cricket since his debut in 2007, Rohit’s technique is generally reliable, even if he, like all cricketers, has some vulnerabilities. To bounce back, Karthik advised Rohit to “guts it out” at the crease, relying on patience and mental toughness to rebuild his innings. Avoiding risky shots on challenging pitches and trusting his technique could help Rohit regain confidence and form.
Rohit Sharma’s experience and ability to handle pressure are crucial for the Indian team, especially in a high-stakes series like this one. Karthik underlined the importance of a mentally strong Rohit Sharma for the team’s success, urging the captain to fight through this phase with determination and focus.
While Rohit’s struggles with the bat continue, India managed to avoid a follow-on on Day 4 of the third Test thanks to a vital 39-run partnership for the tenth wicket between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. Their efforts, combined with earlier contributions from KL Rahul (84) and Ravindra Jadeja (77), helped India reach 252/9 in their first innings, just managing to keep Australia at bay.
Despite the challenges faced by the team, including Rohit’s dip in form, moments of resilience like these partnerships highlight the fighting spirit within the squad. However, the team’s overall success in the series will heavily depend on senior players like Rohit stepping up and delivering crucial performances.
Karthik’s advice serves as a timely reminder for the Indian captain to lean on his vast experience and technical prowess to weather this rough patch. By shifting his approach to suit the demands of Test cricket and showing the grit to stay at the crease, Rohit has the potential to turn things around not only for himself but also for the team.
The ongoing series has thrown up numerous challenges for India, but with players like Rohit regaining form and confidence, the team can hope to put up a strong fight against a formidable Australian side. The coming matches will be crucial in determining how India navigates these hurdles and whether their captain can lead from the front with the bat.