Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah are seen during the inspection of the pitch at MCG in Melbourne on December 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

In a tiny press-conference hall located in the basement of the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rohit Sharma kept nodding his head. Even before the correspondent had finished enquiring about his left knee, the Indian skipper said: “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

The batter had suffered a blow during Sunday’s training but on Tuesday (December 24, 2024), Rohit was in good shape. If there was clarity on this issue, he preferred to keep the scribes guessing when asked about whether he will stay in the middle-order: “Who bats where is something that we need to figure out within ourselves. It’s not a thing which I should be discussing at every press-conference.”

Stepping into the fourth Test with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series level at 1-1, the visiting captain said: “We played some really good cricket and we have been fortunate as well. Nobody wants to give up until the last over and this is an attitude we have carried for a long time. Obviously in Adelaide (second Test), we didn’t play well. And then at Brisbane, only 180 or 190 overs were bowled. After three Tests, if I had to look at it as one-all, it is a fair reflection.”

Looking ahead at the last two contests, starting with the fourth Test in Melbourne from Thursday (December 26, 2024), Rohit said: “We want to break it down to just Melbourne and focus on what we can achieve here. Bat well, bowl well, and take some good catches.”

The skipper was quick to back Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj: “Jaiswal has already shown what he is capable of, and with that kind of a guy, you don’t want to tamper with his mindset.” And on Gill, Rohit added: “These tours can be challenging and it is not easy to put up big runs. Gill understands his batting well, just got to make sure that when you get those 30s and 40s, you try and get a big one.”

With Siraj being in Jasprit Bumrah’s shadow, there have been the odd query about the former’s relevance, and Rohit was quick to counter: “Siraj has really shown great attitude on this tour.” As for Pant, the skipper said: “He has a good record in Australia and just after three Tests here, it is not right to judge.”

When asked if he has any advice to a ‘modern-day great’ like Virat Kohli, Rohit quipped: “Modern day greats will figure their own path.” Later when probed about including spinner Tanush Kotian, Rohit clarified: “Tanush was here a month back and Kuldeep (Yadav) I don’t think has a visa. Jokes apart, we wanted somebody here quickly. Tanush has done well in the last two years and we wanted a back-up in case we need two spinners here or in Sydney.”

Rohit also praised Bumrah: “He knows exactly what he is doing. The impact he has had on this series is massive.” And soon it was time for the skipper to join his teammates at training.

India’s captain Rohit Sharma waits for the presentation ceremony after their loss in the second cricket test match against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Holding a mirror to himself and the team, Rohit Sharma was a picture of introspection in the press-conference at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday (December 8, 2024) evening.

“You know when you come to Australia, you have to play a pink-ball Test. It is just that we didn’t play well enough and Australia played better cricket than us. We need to look into our game, our plans and the stuff we do during the game,” the Indian skipper said.

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He then elaborated: “The best chance of winning a Test is by putting runs on the board. The disappointing part is that we didn’t bat well enough. We probably were 30 to 40 runs short in the first innings and there were opportunities when Australia was batting but we failed to take those chances.”

Rohit also played down the incident between Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head on Saturday, in which the former gave a send-off and words were exchanged: “I was standing at slip and I don’t know what was exchanged. But when two competitive teams are going at each other, these things happen. Travis batted well. My job is not to look at just one incident, I am focussed on the overall picture of the Test. There is a thin line and as captain, it is also my responsibility to make sure that we don’t cross that line.”

Looking ahead, Rohit stressed that his team can spring back: “There are a lot of individuals in that dressing room, who have played a lot of cricket, won a lot of games, and have come back from difficult situations. We hope that everyone stands up to the challenge and takes the team along.” He also emphasised that the bowling attack is not entirely about Jasprit Bumrah and others too need to take up responsibility.

Rohit on Mohammed Shami’ return

Rohit Sharma stressed that the BCCI’s medical team is keeping an eye on Mohammed Shami while not revealing any specific time-frame for the speedster’s return to the Indian squad: “I know he has played the Mushtaq Ali tournament but I believe there is a swelling. It would be unfair to rush him here and hope he bowls. We should not put any pressure on him.”

Skipper Rohit Sharma asserted that “those three hours” when they collapsed to an unimaginable 46 runs in the first Test against New Zealand, won’t define what this Indian team is and any judgement of his players based on that performance will be unfair.
| Photo Credit: AP

Skipper Rohit Sharma on Sunday (October 20, 2024) asserted that “those three hours” when they collapsed to an unimaginable 46 runs in the first Test against New Zealand, won’t define what this Indian team is and any judgement of his players based on that performance will be unfair.

New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in the opening Test of the three-match series despite a valiant fight by the hosts in the second innings in which they scored 462 runs. Rohit said one bad show won’t decide his outfit’s ability to play quality cricket and mount a comeback from difficult situation.

“I am not going to look too much into this Test match honestly because those three hours are not going to dictate what this team is. You know, because it will be unfair to think about those three hours and start judging players and talk slightly differently,” said Rohit in the post-match press meet.

“It’s important to keep a consistent message in the group. We really found a way to come back into this game with the bat in the second innings. Of course, we lost a Test match. But I feel a lot of good things have happened in this game.” The captain conceded that India committed some ‘small mistakes’ but underlined the importance of not “panicking” ahead of the next match.

“We have made small mistakes in this game and we are suffering the consequences. But that doesn’t mean that everything is over,” “We have lost such matches before and we have made a comeback after that. So, we will try not to think too much about this Test.” Rohit said the focus will be on staying strong as a unit ahead of the second Test, starting in Pune from October 24.

“Now, it’s just about keeping a very calm atmosphere, and not to send panic messages. It’s important that we stay strong and try and see how we can nail that second game.” Rohit was delighted to see Sarfaraz Khan stepping up after getting drafted in as a replacement for Shubman Gill, who missed the first Test due to a stiff neck.

“It felt like we were ahead in the game at one stage. We didn’t feel like we were 350 behind and that is something that I am really proud of. It’s always nice to have these kind of players waiting to play the game.

“It was unfortunate that Shubman missed this game. Sarfaraz took that opportunity, and got a big 100. It’s a good sign for the team,” he added.

The Mumbaikar said Gill is feeling fine at the moment, indicating that a call on his availability for the second Test will be taken at a later stage.

Rohit said Rishabh Pant, who made a rollicking 99 in the second innings, will have to be treated carefully as the wicketkeeper batter is still charting his way to the top of his game.

Pant had copped a blow on his operated knee and did not keep on the entire third day.

“He had a massive operation on his leg. It’s just to be a little careful about where he is at and what he is to us. Even when he was batting, he was not comfortably running. He was trying to only put the ball in the stands.

“So, we just need to be extra careful because he has had a lot of minor surgeries, and one big surgery on his knee. He also went through trauma in the last one and a half years.

“So, when you are keeping, you have to bend your knee. The wicket being what it was, we thought it is the right thing to do for him to stay inside and then get 100% ready for the next one,” he explained.

Jasprit Bumrah had a fine Test match, taking three wickets and not leaking too many runs. But his pace colleague Mohammed Siraj was a bit of disappointment.

Siraj took two wickets in the first innings but he failed to make the desired impact as the second pacer.

Rohit refused to single out any bowler for being underwhelming.

“Bumrah got a couple of wickets so I want him to bowl an extended spell (in the second innings). We tried really hard with the new ball, Siraj bowled a brilliant spell as well, but didn’t get the result.