Failure to build partnerships the key reason for loss in 3rd ODI, says Rohit Sharma | INDvsAUS

Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India captain Rohit Sharma blamed poor application from his batters and failure to build substantial partnerships for his side’s defeat in the third and final ODI against Australia at Chepauk on Wednesday. India fell short by 21 runs while chasing a target of 270, which wasn’t much according to skipper Rohit Sharma. This was the first time that India lost a bilateral ODI series at home after four years. Last time the Men in Blue were beaten by Australia under Aaron Finch back in 2020.

“I do not think it was too many runs (269). The wicket was a little challenging towards the second half. I do not think we batted well. Partnerships are crucial, and we failed to do that today,” Sharma said at the end of the match.

In fact, what he found disappointing was that the Indian players have come up the ranks playing on these slow turners.

“The mode of dismissals… you are born and brought up on these wickets. Sometimes you need to apply yourself and give yourself a chance. It was important for one batter to carry on and take the game deep. But all of us were trying our best; it just did not happen.”

However, Rohit feels that the nine home ODIs since January have ensured plenty of positives for the ‘Men in Blue’ ahead of this year’s World Cup.

“The nine ODIs we have played since January, we can take a lot of positives from that,” he said.

Rohit did admit that there is a lot of room for improvement.

“We need to understand where we need to improve. It is a collective failure, we can take a lot of learnings from this series. Credit to the Australians. Both the spinners applied the pressure and so did their seamers,” Sharma added.