India skipper Rohit Sharma’s poor batting form is impacting his captaincy in the ongoing series against Australia, according to former teammates Harbhajan Singh and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Rohit has struggled with the bat, managing just one half-century in his last 12 Test innings, including eight single-digit scores. Batting in the middle order during the second Test in Adelaide offered little respite, as he scored only three and six runs in the match. His absence from India’s victory in the first Test in Perth, where he stayed back to care for his newborn son, has also drawn attention. Critics labeled his captaincy in Adelaide, where Australia secured a 10-wicket win, as overly defensive.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh noted the connection between a player’s form and their decision-making. “No matter how big a player is, he is always worried about his performance. There’s no doubt that when a player scores runs, he makes better decisions. Let’s hope Rohit Sharma scores some runs so that his captaincy improves,” Harbhajan told Star Sports.
Cheteshwar Pujara, the Player of the Series during India’s historic 2018-19 Test series win in Australia, echoed similar sentiments. He suggested that getting some runs on the board could help Rohit become a more proactive leader. “When a captain is out of form, it affects his captaincy as well,” Pujara told the broadcaster.
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Pujara also advised Rohit, known for his attacking approach, to play cautiously early in his innings. “He’s going through bad form, but the start is crucial for him. He should focus on getting his first 20 or 30 runs steadily. After that, he can capitalise on the start and convert it into a big score.”
As the series progresses, KL Rahul, who opened in the first two Tests, may return to the middle order, allowing Rohit to reclaim his role as an opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The third Test in Brisbane begins on Saturday, offering Rohit another chance to rediscover his form and lead from the front.