IND vs NZ: Rohit Sharma's lean patch sparks fan outrage amid India’s home series struggles
Xtra Time Web Desk: India captain Rohit Sharma's ongoing struggles with form persisted during the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, where he was dismissed for just 8 runs by Mitchell Santner, further compounding his batting woes. Santner, who had a stellar performance in the first innings with a seven-wicket haul, altered his length slightly for Rohit, who came down the track to defend. The left-arm spinner generated extra bounce, leading to Rohit’s inside edge flying straight to Will Young at short leg.
Rohit’s recent performances have sparked considerable criticism on social media, with fans expressing their frustration over his lacklustre showings. One user said, Drop Rohit Sharma & save Indian cricket. PLEASE RETIRE ROHIT SHARMA, another said, People targeted KL Rahul but real villain is Rohit Sharma. Imagine the hate if KL Rahul scored like Sharma. While other said, At this point, Rohit has become a walking wicket. Horror home series, and many more such comments.
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Rohit Sharma dismissed for 8 in 16 balls. pic.twitter.com/Wbos2p2xUL
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 26, 2024
Dear Rohit Sharma
— Kevin (@imkevin149) October 26, 2024
You have played test cricket for years now, but now you are beyond finished, it's time to give it to the deserving youngsters like Rajat patidar, Nitish Reddy etc. Please Retire & Free that 1 spot. My respect will be doubled up after your retirement ❤️ pic.twitter.com/41jR0E4WGg
Happy Retirement Rohit Sharma pic.twitter.com/haPlnD3Dlv
— Gagan???????? (@1no_aalsi_) October 26, 2024
Rohit bhay ???????? #indvsnzl pic.twitter.com/Ejt2lPHuca
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) October 24, 2024
In his last eight Test innings, Rohit's scores have been disappointing: 8, 0, 2, 52, 23, 8, 6, and 5, leaving him with just one fifty-plus score. His ongoing struggle is particularly concerning as India gears up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
New Zealand set a daunting target of 359 runs for India, putting the hosts in a precarious position. Rohit had initially started aggressively alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, but Santner’s early breakthrough shifted momentum. Rohit’s defensive technique has come under scrutiny, particularly as he has been bowled twice by Tim Southee in this series, exposing vulnerabilities in his batting.
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Overall, Rohit has scored only 62 runs in four innings throughout the series, with a solitary fifty in the first Test overshadowed by subsequent low scores. At the time of writing, India stood at 53/1, with Jaiswal and Shubman Gill trying to stabilize the innings. The pressure is mounting on Rohit to find form quickly, especially with the possibility of a historic home series defeat looming for the Indian team, which hasn’t lost a series at home since 2012.
