Rohit Sharma says poor form ‘mentally disturbing’ after India loses Melbourne Test

Rohit Sharma reflects on India's defeat, discusses team performance, individual players, and strategies for the upcoming Test match.

Rohit Sharma sat down and grimaced a little. Post-defeat inquisitions can be macabre even if the queries are couched in euphemisms, and the Indian captain answered all at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on Monday (December 30, 2024) evening.

Reflecting on the fourth Test’s defeat against Australia, Rohit said: “Obviously, we had the opportunity to bring the game (fourth Test) to us or to draw it. We tried, but again, many boys who made runs could have played longer but the new guys will learn.”

The questions then centred around him: “Obviously, few results have not gone our way and as a captain, it is disappointing. As a batter, a lot of the things I am trying to do are not falling in place. Mentally, look, it is disturbing.”

Looking ahead, the batter said: “There is still a game (Sydney) to go. If we can play that well, a (series) draw will be really nice. [We will] make sure that when we turn up at Sydney we try and move that momentum towards us.”

Asked about Rishabh Pant’s manner of dismissals, Rohit explained: “Pant has had a lot of success doing what he does. As a captain, you want to back that thought of him playing the way he plays. Sometimes when things don’t look good, it frustrates everyone.”

Queried about managing Jasprit Bumrah’s spells, the skipper admitted: “To be honest, he has bowled a lot of overs. But again, every Test we play, we keep that in mind, the workloads of all the bowlers. If somebody is in such great form, you want to try and maximize. But there comes a time when you need to give him that extra breather as well.”

Rohit also lauded Nitish Kumar: “We saw there is a lot of potential which is why he is here. With the bat he was brilliant, read the situation pretty well and has a solid technique and super mind.”