India vs Australia | Rohit Sharma got better when Rishabh Pant came to bat, asserts VVS Laxman

Team India got off to a positive start in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG after debutant Mayank Agarwal led the way with a strong 76 at the top of the batting order. Agarwal’s knock was followed by two very good innings by Cheteshwar Pujara (106) and Virat Kohli (82) to assure India were in the driving seat in Melbourne.

However, after losing the duo at the start of day two, a late flurry of runs from Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant helped the visitors register a convincing score of 443/7 before declaring. Former India batsman VVS Laxman highlighted how Sharma was on the backfoot in the initial stages of his innings but played more freely once Pant took to the crease.

“One of the reasons why Rohit’s strike-rate was less was because of the way he started off. When he was having that partnership with Rahane and, lost two set batsmen. At that time, Rohit and Rahane were new at the wicket and while Ajinkya was batting well, it was important to stitch a stand as India couldn’t have afforded to lose another wicket," Laxman told ESPNcricinfo.

“Rohit wasn’t able to find his rhythm and not able to time the ball. It was tough for a new batsman to come and accelerate against quality fast bowlers. But there were two types of Rohit Sharma- one before Siddle dropped his catch and the other after he got the reprieve. Rohit was more free-flowing than what it was before. Once Pant joined him, his strike-rate got better.” 

The Mumbai Indians skipper was offered a second lifeline as Aussie pacer Peter Siddle dropped the catch of the experienced India campaigner when he was batting at a strike-rate of 24.59 (15 from 61 balls). Thereafter, he notched 48 runs from 53 balls at a strike-rate of 90.56. His knock also helped the visiting team put up a significant 443 on the board.

After having an average outing at Adelaide in the series opener, the 31-year old made the most of the opportunity and remained unbeaten on 63 from 114 balls with the help of five boundaries. Sharma stitched together a stand of 62 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored his 17th Test ton, after that he also added 76 runs with young wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. 

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