Rohit Sharma’s form has remained a major concern for Team India. The Indian captain has endured an underwhelming 2024 and his struggle has continued to haunt him on Australian soil too.

The 37-year-old missed the first match in Perth and came back in the day-night Test in Adelaide. He decided not to tinker with the batting order and batted at number six to let KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal open the batting. But unfortunately, that didn’t change his fortunes as his poor run has now emerged as a major worry for the visitors.

Rohit further fell to Pat Cummins' trickery at Gabba as he could only manage 10 runs in the first innings. This is the sixth time in 12 innings Cummins managed to get the better of the Indian skipper.

Cheteshwar Pujara suggested Rohit’s decision to put himself down in the batting order might be the reason behind his form. In an interaction on Star Sports, he said, “It wasn't a length where you can drive. We have seen that even a fuller length ball, it's hard to drive. He, kind of tried to punch that ball. He should have defended that ball, allowed the ball to come to him rather than going for that ball. And I think the tough part is he hasn't been, amongst runs, and, that's where the pressure is.

“He has been opening the innings, now he's batting at number 6. That is for the team, but I still feel that when you are so much used to opening the innings and when you have to wait, then you put yourself in that doubt. I mean, it doesn't help you when you're opening innings and you suddenly start batting at number 6. So that you don't get that momentum either.”

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