Rohit Sharma needs to understand that in Test cricket he should attack: Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik & Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Gareth Copley, Stu Forster/Getty Images)

England stunned India in the first Test of the five-match series as they beat the hosts by 28 runs on Day 4 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Being 190 runs behind in the first innings, England made a sensational comeback on the back of a heroic knock from Ollie Pope who scored 196 (278). Later, India were bundled out for 202 in pursuit of 230 as debutant Tom Hartley picked up 7/62 to set up a come-from-behind win for England.

Notably, India lost the plot in the third session on Day 3 as Pope and Ben Foakes helped extend their lead to 85 with their 112-run stand. During that phase and the morning session on Day 4, India captain Rohit Sharma had set defensive fields to stop the run flow allowing Pope to rotate strike easily.

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Commenting on India’s performance, cricketer-turned-commentator Dinesh Karthik felt that Rohit needs to be a bit more proactive as a leader in the second Test and don’t allow bowlers to set a field on their own.

“India definitely didn’t bowl well. The one thing Rohit Sharma needs to do in the next Test is not accept whatever the bowler is setting in terms of field. A lot of the times, I’ve seen bowlers sometimes try to be more defensive than they need to be. He needs to push the bowlers to set slightly attacking fields, at least to the opponent bowlers and batters who have just walked in,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

Further speaking ahead, Karthik suggested tightening things up against the tailenders and not allowing them to rotate the strike easily.

“Rohit Sharma needs to understand that in Test cricket, just like his batting, he needs to attack and show intent with the ball as well. A No. 9 or No. 10 batter can’t come on a turning pitch and take singles easily. He shouldn’t be allowing that. That is the time to buck up, and that’s an area they missed with the ball,” Karthik added.

KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja ruled out of second Test

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Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul have been ruled out of the second Test scheduled to begin from Friday, February 02 in Visakhapatnam. Jadeja sustained a hamstring injury during Day 4 of the first game while Rahul complained of a right quadriceps pain. The BCCI have announced Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar and Saurabh Kumar as replacements.