Cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar criticized Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma for his poor shot selection against the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. The 36-year-old tried to play a scoop shot and got caught on short third man by Ravindra Jadeja continuing his poor run in the league.
Rohit Sharma had a poor outing for the five-time champions so far with the bat as he scored only 184 runs from ten games with a poor average of 18.4 and a strike rate of 126.89.
Rohit came on to bat at the Number 3 position to change his fortunes for his team but departed before scoring a run against CSK. Speaking on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment over Rohit Sharma’s shot selection stating that it was not the Skipper’s shot to play at the stage of the innings as the team has already lost two wickets in the powerplay.
“It just doesn’t seem as if he is in the game. I may be completely wrong, but the shot he played wasn’t a captain’s shot. A captain repairs the innings knowing that the team is in trouble, plays a decent knock, and gets the team to a good total. Two wickets went for not too many in the power-play and you are not in form,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
The Indian captain was not at his usual best for the past few years in the cash-rich league, as he was not lethal opening the batting for the five-time champions for the past few seasons and has struggled to score runs in the league.
Mumbai Indians came into the matches after back-to-back wins against Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings they chased down 200 runs total in both matches but could not bat well against the formidable Chennai Super Kings bowling lineup as the team posted only 139-8 at the end of 20 overs.
Maybe A Little Break Would Do Him Well – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar was baffled by Rohit Sharma’s decision to play the scoop shot in the initial stage of the innings, despite his poor form in the league, and said that he should start the innings slow to build then go on to attack the bowlers and reckons that the Indian skipper is preoccupied that he needs little break going into the tournament.
“If you are in form, I still understand the scoop shot, but it’s a huge shot when you have got two ducks in the previous game. So, you want to play and get yourself off the mark, get some circulation in the legs, running quick ones and twos, and then go for the big ones. Maybe, he is preoccupied and maybe a little break would do him good. But it’s for him and the MI team management to take a call,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
Mumbai Indians are currently placed at number six in the points table, with five wins in the league stage, and will look to make a comeback when their take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the next game on their home ground on May 9.