Pressure dials up on Rohit Sharma after ‘soft’ MCG dismissal

India’s captain is running out of time to save his Test career after failing to take advantage of a controversial batting order reshuffle.

Australian great Ricky Ponting has savaged Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s dismissal on day two at the MCG as pressure mounts on his captaincy and future in the Test side.

The 37-year-old opener returned to his favoured position but fell for just three as he spooned Pat Cummins to wide mid-on to continue a dire run of form in the longer format.

At his best an authoritative figure at the crease who pulls the ball powerfully, Rohit prodded meekly at the back of a length delivery from Cummins after shaping to play his signature shot.

The dismissal, which was labelled “lazy” by Ponting, came after he drew fire for India’s listless fielding performance in the first session on day two as Australia piled on 1-143 in 27 overs to move from 6-311 to 7-454.

Former Sri Lanka and Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody said the performance reflected a “lack of tactical detail” as he also criticised the omission of Shubman Gill for an extra all-rounder in Washington Sundar.

Next week’s final Test in Sydney will be the last time the Indian side plays Test cricket until its five-match tour of England beginning in June, thrusting the futures of Rohit and Virat Kohli firmly under the microscope.

Rohit, who now has 155 runs at 11.07 in his last 14 Test innings, missed the Perth Test to be at the birth of his second child, with Jasprit Bumrah taking the reins and engineering a comprehensive and energetic victory.

The star fast bowler would be the leading candidate to replace the veteran should he or the BCCI decide to end his tenure before the England series.

Ponting said Rohit’s false shot suggested he had not been mentally prepared for the heat of battle in his return to the top of the order after batting at six in Brisbane and Adelaide.

“That is just a lazy, not switched on, not up for the moment type of shot. He has been known as one of the best hookers and pullers of the ball since he made his debut, but that is just not there, it is nothing,” Ponting said on Channel 7.

Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of Rohit Sharma for 3 as he went on to take the first two scalps to reduce India to 2-51 on tea at day two. Picture: Martin Keep / AFP

“It is not committed. It is not looking to be aggressive. He is just looking to tap it on the head.

“It might have held in the wicket, yes, might have seamed away from him a fraction, but if you are going to survive against this Australian attack you have to be switched on and making good decisions. If you are not, they will knock you over every time.”

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said he was unsure of the merits of the move to demote leading runscorer KL Rahul to three and drop Shubman Gill to accommodate Rohit’s position change.

“It makes you wonder whether the change was necessary,” Gavaskar said on ABC Grandstand after Rohit’s dismissal.

“Here’s a man, KL Rahul, who has been their best batter in all three Test matches, and now you drop him down the order.”

Rahul started brightly to reach 24 before he was bowled by a superb delivery from Cummins on the final ball before the tea break, with India 2-51 in reply to Australia’s 474.

‘Maybe a bit naive’: Konstas on Bumrah take-down

Man of the moment Sam Konstas feels the ramp is a “safe shot” for him and says he is willing to risk looking silly to mess with the rhythm of Jasprit Bumrah.

The Test debutant took the series leading wicket-taker for 32 runs off two overs on his way to an entertaining 60, refusing to shelve his reverse-grip scoop after he failed to make contact with his first two attempts earlier in Bumrah’s spell.

Konstas, 19, said he had hatched the plan to take on the Indian star with his batting coach Tahmid Islam, who joined him in Melbourne ahead of the match, along with his longtime mentor Shane Watson.

Speaking after play with Australia 6-311 at stumps, he again brushed off Virat Kohli’s mid-pitch contact with him as an “accidental bump” as he explained his strategy against Bumrah.

Sam Konstas took Jasprit Bumrah for 32 runs in a two-over burst during his electric 60 on debut in the Boxing Day Test. Picture: William West / AFP

“(Bumrah) is a legend of the game obviously, so I was trying to put a bit of pressure on him, and it paid off today,” he said.

“Just getting in the contest with him and trying to take his lines away … (the ramp shots) were definitely premeditated, especially with the pace, but (I was) just trying to keep my head still and watch it hard onto my bat.

“I got a few away and changed the field, which was good, and then tried (to get them) to bowl to my zones.”

Asked if he had any fear of backlash if he was dismissed cheaply trying to play a ramp shot, Konstas’ reply was: “Nah, not really”.

“I think it probably will look silly if I do get out, but I work pretty hard on that shot – I feel like it’s probably a safe shot for me, really,” he said.

The broad grin couldn’t be wiped from Konstas’ face in the pre-game, including the national anthems. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

“That’s the beauty about being young and maybe a bit naive – I’m just trying to put pressure back on the bowlers the best way I think is, and it was good to get a few runs today.

“I reckon maybe 20, 30 years ago people were probably saying, ‘defend a lot, just bat all day’, but I think new generation, new shots, it’s exciting for me.”

After earlier describing Kohli’s mid-pitch act as a “shoulder charge”, Konstas avoided inflaming tensions further after play.

“I was just doing my gloves and I think (Kohli) accidentally bumped me, but I think that’s just cricket, that’s the tension,” he said.

“(After the incident) I was just trying to get into the contest, and whoever I was facing I just tried to bring the best version of myself.

“Obviously it got heated at times, which was good for me – I feel like that brings the best out of me, and hopefully I go well next innings.”

Originally published as Pressure dials up on Rohit Sharma after ‘soft’ MCG dismissal