Rohit’s poor run a cause of worry
emphatic. Ahead of Saturday’s ODI at Wanderers, India had lost just four of their 24 ODIS since the ICC Champions Trophy last June.
If one thing should bother them, that is a lack of consistent opening partnerships. Since the Champions Trophy, where India were runners-up to Pakistan, India have tried out three different opening combinations involving Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane.
While they have managed to get seven century partnerships, when they haven’t got going, there has not been a single 50-run partnership.
In this series, the best opening partnership has been 33, and the average first wicket partnership less than 20.
Interestingly, Rahane, batting at No 4 in this series and who could be slotted in as opener going forward, has featured in five of those century partnerships.
It probably lends weight to skipper Virat Kohli’s preference to keep him as a third opener.
What is worrying is when Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have opened, only one of them has usually clicked. While it has been all Dhawan this series, the two had taken turns in ODIS at home earlier this season.
Asked about Rohit Sharma’s failure to get going in South Africa, Dhawan had said he has been hitting the ball well and the poor form shouldn’t be of concern as he is just one knock away from success.
The batsmen-friendly Wanderers wicket, with good bounce, was expected to suit his batting style, but Rohit pushed one straight back to bowler Kagiso Rabada, extending his poor form, this time dismissed for five.
These cheap dismissals should worry him because India’s second wicket partnership has done exceedingly well with Kohli and Dhawan making full use of batting-friendly conditions.