Rohit Sharma Criticizes Indian Fast Bowlers Following Subpar Display, Urges Emulation of South African Bowling Prowess
On Thursday, India suffered a setback in the first Test of the two-match series against South Africa, losing by an innings and 32 runs. This dashed the hopes of Rohit Sharma and his team to overcome the longstanding challenge of winning a series in South Africa, a feat that no Indian team has achieved in the last 31 years.
Despite KL Rahul’s commendable performance, the majority of the Indian batsmen faced challenges in adapting to the bouncing and swinging conditions at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium in Centurion. Simultaneously, the Indian bowlers were unable to exert sufficient pressure on the Proteas, resulting in them achieving a formidable first innings total exceeding 400 runs.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Indian bowling unit for allowing too many runs in the initial innings. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of newcomers acknowledging and appreciating the opportunities presented to them.
Speaking after the game, Rohit remarked (as cited by PTI), “This pitch wasn’t conducive to a 400-run total, and we conceded more runs than desired. The ball was sprayed around, but such things occur. It’s crucial not to rely solely on one bowler like Bumrah; the other three pacers also needed to fulfill their roles. We could draw lessons from South Africa’s bowling performance.”
However, Rohit also commended Jasprit Bumrah for his impactful performance, securing 4 wickets in nearly 27 overs with an economy rate below 3 runs per over. Rohit acknowledged, “Bumrah bowled exceptionally well, showcasing his quality. He just needed some support, which unfortunately he didn’t receive. It’s a common occurrence. All three pacers put in a solid effort, putting their backs into it, but things didn’t unfold as we had hoped. Nevertheless, matches like these offer valuable lessons for our bowling unit and help us define our strategies.”
Rohit Sharma also provided some guidance to the young Indian players who had the chance to showcase their skills on the grand stage against South Africa. He emphasized the importance of gratitude and fulfilling their responsibilities for the team. Sharma expressed understanding for Prasidh Krishna, acknowledging the nerves that come with playing the first game. Despite the outcome not being favorable, Sharma expressed confidence in Krishna’s abilities and commended his positive attitude towards the game, assuring support for him in the future.
