Indian captain Rohit Sharma is under pressure to deliver in fourth Test of BGT Series

Team India have to turn the heat on. They have done it in Australia, so why not, again. They need to step up on Thursday.


Indian captain Rohit Sharma is under pressure to deliver in fourth Test of BGT Series

Rohit Sharma

It’s an imposing stadium in Ahmedabad, named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For all those cricket fans who grew up reading about and seeing the gigantic and historic MCG — Melbourne Cricket Ground — the inauguration of the brand new stadium in Motera in 2021, as it was formerly known, has been inspiring. On Thursday, the marvelous arena will host the fourth and final Test in the BGT Series.

ADVERTISEMENT

For both teams, it is like a shootout, though Indian captain Rohit Sharma would love to win this one. The visitors are in awe of the stadium, its backdrop, and how the pictures of two Prime Ministers — Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese — are dotting the electronic scoreboards right now. Friendship is the theme between the two nations, politically, though not in a cricketing sense.

It’s a great chance to be at this venue, where tickets seem in “short supply.” Rough estimates, the stadium can accommodate over 1,30,000 people. Of this, around 10,000 will be security itself, in uniform and plain clothes. Two years ago, when the refurbished stadium was inaugurated, the Tests between India and England India ended in less than three days.

Times have changed. India won the first two Tests, before the reverse in Indore. That one win exposed India and hyped up Australia. All of a sudden, the chatter is on the turnaround that the Aussies affected, with Steve Smith as the captain. The way he led, sharp and purposeful, was huge. And that is how Nathan Lyon showed that he could break the back of the Indian batting. Smith will lead again in the last Test as Pat Cummins is in Australia with his ailing Mom.

ADVERTISEMENT

Guessing games will continue over the pitch for the fourth Test. It’s a green outfield, the “center” has been seen by both teams. The Aussie media is guessing, if a green top or a more brown pitch, will be produced on Thursday. With Rohit Sharma making comments on how India like turning tracks, he has become the butt of ridicule. Yes, the Indian spinners, led by Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin shone in the first two Tests. However, the batting was a flop show.

Related: WATCH: “Hollywood style debut,” America’s Tara Norris becomes first player to take fifer in WPL 2023

Rohit Sharma has faced flak, and he will not ask for an underprepared track as it exploded on the Indian batters in Indore

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is under pressure to deliver in fourth Test of BGT Series
Rohit Sharma

Axar Patel has loved bowling at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which he showed in 2021, against England. History means nothing, really. One loss can change the perception of the team. Rohit Sharma has faced flak, and he will not ask for an underprepared track as it exploded on the Indian batters in Indore. The plan should be to play on a pitch that is not substandard like Indore.

The skipper, and his former skipper — Virat Kohli — know the world media glare is on Ahmedabad. Pressure is on India for the Aussies are already into the ICC World Test Championship final. India made a hash of it in Indore, and to win in Ahmedabad, already baking at 36 degrees, will be important.

ADVERTISEMENT

Team India have to turn the heat on. They have done it in Australia, so why not, again. All of a sudden, people are discussing the absence of injured Rishabh Pant, for, his batting was so valuable in Test cricket. KS Bharat has done decently, but none expects him to come up with a 70-plus knock. Someone like Sunil Gavaskar has brought up how India are missing injured Jasprit Bumrah. Here, Rohit will need to explain. He rested Mohd Shami and Umesh Yadav came in.

However, what will be the call-up for the fourth Test? To think the accent will be on pace is a bit far stretched, could even be suicidal. Can four bowlers play and the batting be strengthened by including Suryakumar Yadav? For Team India, there is pride at stake, what with the leaders of two nations watching on Day 1. India is a leader today in many walks of life, the G20 summit is proof of it. The time has come when the leader’s role has to be grabbed by Rohit Sharma.

If someone tells you there is no pressure on him, do not believe it. His captaincy is under the scanner, just as KL Rahul was sacked after the second Test as vice-captain. The batter was then dropped for the Indore Test. The spirit of Holi should provide color to India’s campaign. This Test series has been interesting, though the loss of days has been a bummer.

To make it more competitive, the focus is on the Indian captain and all the batters. Kohli’s runs also seem to have dried up in Tests, plus Shreyas Iyer needs to deliver. All of a sudden, there is pessimism over Team India.

ADVERTISEMENT

Coach Rahul Dravid also knows that he has to fire up this side. Mentally, the Aussies have done well. No cribbing, like before. It has helped them stage a comeback. Over to Team India, they need to step up on Thursday.

In case you missed:

“He was the best batter but as a captain…,” Shoaib Akhtar compares Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli

“Divided by gender, united by sh**ty bowling”- Twitter fans mock RCB bowlers after Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma destroy them with scintillating knocks

ADVERTISEMENT