Rohit Sharma needs to be a bit more proactive: Simon Katich

Former Australian opener Simon Katich said Indian bowlers were far more aggressive under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy in the first Test in Perth than they were under Rohit Sharma’s leadership in the second Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 10 wickets.

The Men in Blue were bowled out for just 150 in the first innings of the opening Test but the bowlers brought them back into the game by dismissing Australia for 104. India eventually won the game by 295 runs. However, in the second Test, Katich wasn’t impressed with Rohit’s usage of bowlers and the length they bowled against the Australian batters.

“When you compare the two results, obviously, in Perth, Rohit Sharma missed out. And I thought Bumrah’s captaincy, and particularly, the use of his bowlers in the length that they bowled, was far superior to what we saw in Adelaide,” Katich said on the ‘Around the Wicket’ podcast. 

“In Perth late on Day 1 when Australia were 7/67, India attacked the stumps and bowled much fuller and straighter lengths.”

India got out for 180 in the first innings of the second Test but allowed Australia to hammer 337 in response, with Travis Head slamming 140 off 141 deliveries. Katich said Rohit will have to be more proactive if India want to bounce back from the big defeat in the pink-ball Test.

“Whereas, when you look at the pitch map for Adelaide, on the night of Day 1, they were a lot shorter and wider, and around the 7-8 meter mark. So they missed a trick. 

“Rohit Sharma was at first slip; he saw it all unfold. He needs to be a bit more proactive with his quicks when that’s happening. Because Australia got out of jail in that session only being one down and as a result, went on to win the Test.”

The third Test will be played in Brisbane from December 14.

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