Time to Hang the Test Blazer?

Adelaide, December 7, 2024 – By Harsha Bhogle

Adelaide Blues: Has Rohit Sharma Missed the Mark as Test Captain?

Test cricket is as much about character as it is about skill. It challenges not just the players but also the leaders to adapt, inspire, and rise above the ordinary. India’s journey from the highs of Perth to the troubling lows of Adelaide in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a testament to the fine margins that separate dominance from defeat.

Two days into the Adelaide

Test, India finds itself in a precarious position. The team that dazzled with aggression and intent under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy in Perth now appears flat, defensive, and searching for answers under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. As the match unfolds, it’s worth asking if India has lost more than just momentum—it may have lost the spark that defined its success in Perth.

In Perth, Bumrah’s leadership epitomized a fearless brand of cricket. The field placements were attacking, the bowlers were rotated to perfection, and the players exuded a sense of purpose. Virat Kohli, working in tandem with Bumrah, ensured the energy never dipped.

In Adelaide, however, the approach has been markedly different. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, while calm and composed, has leaned heavily toward caution.

Field placements have been conservative at best only one slip in place—and that too, a second slip—leaving the crucial first-slip area vacant. Twice, Travis Head edged deliveries that would have been routine catches at first slip. Similarly, when the batter looked vulnerable to close-in fielders, there was no short leg in sight. while austrlia had 3 slips , gully , point , short leg , The field settings reflected caution, not intent. and boundary riders deployed after the first sign of resistance.

These decisions beg the question: why the shift in approach? Why abandon the formula that worked so effectively in Perth?

The Larger Leadership Question!

Rohit Sharma’s credentials as a limited-overs captain are impeccable. His calm demeanor and strategic acumen have delivered success in white-ball cricket. However, Test cricket, particularly in challenging overseas conditions, demands a different skill set—one that combines aggression with adaptability.

It is worth reflecting on India’s performances under Rohit in Tests. Earlier this year, the team suffered a humbling 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand. That series exposed cracks in the leadership approach—cracks that have reappeared in Adelaide.

In contrast, the Bumrah-Kohli dynamic in Perth showcased what this team is capable of under assertive leadership. Kohli’s on-field intensity complemented Bumrah’s calculated decisions, creating a synergy that allowed the team to punch above its weight.

Should the management reconsider its leadership strategy? Is Rohit’s experience in white-ball cricket enough to justify his continued captaincy in the longest format?

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is far from over, it's matter of wtc final , but India’s performance in Adelaide raises important questions. Can Rohit Sharma adapt his leadership style to meet the demands of Test cricket? Will the team rediscover the fire and aggression that defined its Perth performance?

Leadership is not just about winning; it’s about setting a tone that enables others to thrive. At the moment, that tone seems missing. If India is to salvage this series, these concerns must be addressed, and quickly.

Rohit Sharma remains one of India’s finest cricketers, but the time has come for him to answer whether he can truly excel as a Test captain. This series may well define not only his legacy but also the future of this Indian team.

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