The ongoing fourth Test between India and Australia in Ahmedabad has not started on the best of notes for wicketkeeper KS Bharat. Before the start of the game, there were reports suggesting that he might be dropped from the playing eleven to make room for Ishan Kishan.

The wicketkeeper-batsman did well behind the stumps in the first three Tests but struggled with the bat. In the three Tests, he scored merely 57 runs at an average of 14.25 in the series. And following the loss in the Indore Test, several reports suggested that he might make way for Kishan.

India skipper Rohit Sharma, however, was quick to back the under-pressure wicketkeeper. The star batsman said that judging the newcomer on the basis of his performance in the ongoing series would be unfair.

“But speaking about Bharat. He has spent a lot of time in domestic cricket, played a lot of Ranji Trophy, India ‘A’ team cricket, Zonals and scored a lot of runs. So it will be slightly unfair to judge him on these pitches,” Rohit Sharma said on the eve of the ongoing Test.

“If someone’s making a debut in the series, you’ve got to give him enough room or enough innings for him to set himself up for a big score.

“That is something that I spoke to Bharat at the start of the series, do not worry about what kind of pitches we play on, or what challenges are ahead, you’ll get enough time to prove yourself, because these pitches are not easy.

“If you’re playing on pitches such as these, you’ve to be ready for guys failing in some innings as well. And you’ve got to back those guys. And that is what we’re doing with KS (Bharat). He has a lot of runs in domestic cricket, has experience, and he’s a good keeper,” he added.

KS Bharat struggles:

While the Indian team-management is firmly behind KS Bharat, the wicketkeeper could not justify their faith in him during the first session of the ongoing game. Bharat struggled behind the stumps as Australia made a good start with the bat after winning the toss.

Bharat not only conceded byes but also dropped Travis Head in the sixth over of the innings when he edged a Umesh Yadav delivery behind the stumps. It was an easy catch but Bharat ended up making a mess of it.

And as Bharat struggled behind the stumps, the cricket fraternity did not take long to take shots at him. Here are some of the reactions on his poor wicketkeeping:

All the talk about "KS Bharat should play over Ishan Kishan because of his wicketkeeping"

And then KS Bharat concedes byes and drops a sitter ?

You can't give chances to batters on such a good track..Bharat yaar ?

— Anuj Nitin Prabhu ? (@APTalksCricket) March 9, 2023

KS Bharat was given a vote of confidence by Rohit Sharma yesterday. He's not backed it up so far today.#INDvAUS

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 9, 2023

He’s only 4 tests into his career, but does anyone know what the point in having KS Bharat in the side is? Apparently he’s a ‘great’ keeper. But I’ve seen no evidence of that. And he certainly isn’t good enough to bat in the top 7. #INDvAUS #INDvsAUS

— Nikesh Rughani (@NikeshRughani) March 9, 2023

This Rishabh Pant is better than KS Bharat ?#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/sqRHIWr5Qq

— India Wing (@india_wing) March 9, 2023

K in KS Bharat stands for Kamran today

— Udit (@udit_buch) March 9, 2023

Eight byes, one dropped chance, it hasn't been a great first half hour of the game for KS Bharat. Also haven't seen the ball swing as much passing the batter in India as it has today. #INDvAUS

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) March 9, 2023

Reply feel for KS Bharat. He is so good on slow turners. He struggled at Kotla as well. It’s not easy to keep to this Indian pace attack for new wicketkeepers! DK has been pointing the deficiency in his footwork. #INDvsAUSTest

— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) March 9, 2023