Rohit Sharma, captain of the Indian cricket team, is under fire following India`s defeat to Australia in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The loss has sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, who has taken issue with Rohit`s decision-making and leadership style during the match.

Ali specifically criticized Rohit`s choice to demote KL Rahul in the batting order while promoting himself, arguing that this move undermined the team`s confidence. The Indian team entered the final day needing 340 runs to secure a victory but ultimately fell short, with Rohit managing only 9 runs and Virat Kohli contributing just 5 runs in the chase. Ali highlighted Rohit`s defensive approach at the start of the final day`s play, suggesting it set a tone that favored a draw rather than an aggressive pursuit of victory.

Further compounding the criticism, Ali questioned the team management`s strategy, particularly the failure to maintain a left-hand-right-hand batting combination after Rishabh Pant`s dismissal. He suggested that Rohit should consider stepping down as captain, proposing that Jasprit Bumrah take over leadership for the remaining matches in the series. The match concluded with Australia winning decisively, bringing the series score to 2-1 in their favor. The next Test is set to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting January 3, 2025.

#RohitSharma,#BorderGavaskar,#TestCricket,#IndiaVsAustralia,#MCG