122 in nine innings has put Sharma on an embarrassing list as he etched one of the lowest averages by a captain batting on home soil in a minimum of eight innings
Already a lost cause, India’s disastrous performance in the ongoing India vs. New Zealand Test series continued even in the third Test. In the first innings, the team had already lost four wickets within 86 runs (at the time of draughting this article), and while some of the youngsters have done well in the last two games, it is the performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli that have mostly thwarted India’s chances of winning the series and put the India cricket fans into a worrisome state amidst the festive season, especially given India’s next big task is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Speaking about Rohit Sharma, his 18-ball, 18-run session in the first inning put him on an embarrassing list. As per ESPNcricinfo, Rohit Sharma recorded one of the lowest averages by a captain batting on home soil in a minimum of eight innings.
In 2024 so far, Rohit Sharma has played 11 Test matches, including 20 innings, scoring 577 runs at an average of 30.36. However, since the Bangladesh Test series that was played in September and October, Rohit Sharma has so far played nine Test innings on home soil. In these nine innings, Sharma has scored 122 runs at an average of 13.55, which is the second lowest after Nasser Hussain’s 10.22 etched in 2000 in a minimum of eight innings.
In 2000, Nasser Hussain played 10 innings, scoring 92 runs at an average of 10.22. The third on the list after Sharma is Ricky Ponting, who played eight innings in 2010/11, scoring 113 runs at an average of 16.14. The fourth name on the list is Mark Taylor, who etched an average of 17 in 1996/97 by scoring 153 runs in nine innings. Sunil Gavaskar’s struggle in 1984/85 was also highlighted on the list, as he scored 140 runs in eight innings at an average of 17.50. The fifth name on the list is Michael Vaughan, who scored 140 runs in eight innings with an average of 17.50 in 2003.
In the first innings of the first Test against Bangladesh, Sharma went home for six runs in 19 balls, whereas the second innings saw him losing his wicket at five runs.
The second Test against Bangladesh was no better, as Sharma, even though he scored 23 runs in the first innings, was far from his masterclass, whereas the second innings again saw him going back to the pavilion with a single-digit score of eight.
Rohit Sharma looks finished in the red ball cricket.
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) November 1, 2024
He made another glorious selfless 18 and departed.The most concerning thing is, he is getting out by the pacer when other Bateman are troubled by the spinners.That's, really concerning sign ahead of BGT. pic.twitter.com/fdHtIJHSl8
Against New Zealand, in the first innings of the first Test, the Indian captain scored two runs, whereas in the second innings, he had resumed his form by adding 52 runs. However, his form again saw a dip in the second Test as he was sent home for a duck in the first innings. In the second innings of the second Test, Rohit Sharma again scored a single-digit run of eight.
Given the string of poor performances, many have called for Rohit Sharma’s retirement, not only because of his performance but also because his captaincy in Test cricket is now being questioned. A loss against New Zealand has put India in a tricky situation in the World Test Championship, which could be further aggravated if India loses the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The only thing that will now put a smile and restore India’s faith is a big knock from Sharma or Kohli in the second innings of the ongoing third Test against the Kiwis.
