Rohit Sharma (agency photo)

Rohit Sharma decided to return to his usual batting spot as an opener Melbourne Test against Australia after failed attempts to score runs in the middle order. However, the exchange did not change his happiness. Rather, it disrupted the line-up and damaged India’s confidence, says the former Pakistan batsman Basit Aliwhich resulted in defeat.
Rohit was dismissed for 9 by Pat Cummins on the final morning of the fourth Test in Melbourne and has posted a shocking total of 31 runs in five innings so far on the Australia tour. This results in an average of 6.20, which is the worst value of any visiting captain in Australia. If he also fails in Sydney, it will likely result in a new record worse than the 7.75 average for tailender and former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh.

The 184-run defeat came in dismal fashion as India lost their last seven wickets for just 34 runs and slipped from 121 for 3 to a total of 155. It gave Australia a 2-1 lead in this Border Gavaskar Trophy series with one Test left to play.
“Have India become overconfident after winning the first Test (in Perth)?” Basit asked while analyzing the final day’s match on his YouTube channel.
“Ek faisla – ke nahi, mai open karunga,” he added, referring to Rohit’s decision to open. “Rohit is out of form and the one who scored runs, (KL) Rahul, you put pressure on him too.”
“Aapne Team Ka Confidence Bilkul Shatter Kar Diya (You have destroyed the team’s confidence).”
It is believed that the final Test of the series in Sydney, which begins on January 3, could be Rohit’s last in red-ball cricket. Nothing is certain but Basit felt that Rohit should end his Test career.

“I think it’s time for Rohit to step down. (Jasprit) Bumrah should be made captain for the final Test. You have served India a lot but your body is not supporting you now,” Basit said.
He also criticized Rohit’s decision to open and felt that Shubman Gill should have played at the No.3 position in Melbourne.
India dropped Gill to sign all-rounder Washington Sundar to have another bowling option without completely compromising on the batting front by leaving out a specialist batsman.
“Gill should have played even though he scored a zero in both innings. But just because of your number (Rohit’s opening position), you disrupted the formation of the entire team,” Basit accused the Indian captain.

Why not put Kohli when ordering?
Basit also criticized Virat Kohli for repeatedly falling behind by hitting the balls well outside his off-stump and going for the ball instead of letting it fall on his bat.
Apart from his century in the second innings in Perth, Kohli has done nothing of note in his remaining innings on the tour.
Basit even went to the extent of advising the Indian team management led by coach Gautam Gambhir to let Nitish Kumar Reddy bat at Kohli’s No. 4 position after the 21-year-old all-rounder’s consistent performance throughout the series, which also included his first century came in the first innings of the Melbourne Test.
“Now the team has to put Nitish at No. 4 and Virat Kohli at No. 5 because he cannot score at No. 4. He comes out with the same shot,” Basit said.
“Perform nahi ho raha till Apna number until you have no chance (but no one thinks about Virat because everyone is scared).
“Mera khayal hai Dravid ki yaad aayegi (I think former coach Rahul Dravid will be missed).”