Kevin Pietersen slams Rohit Sharma's 'lazy' approach after Shoaib Bashir dismisses India captain
Kevin Pietersen slams Rohit Sharma's 'lazy' approach after Shoaib Bashir dismisses India captain
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India captain Rohit Sharma had lit the ODI World Cup 2023 at home with his aggressive intent and decision to take the attack to the bowlers in opening overs, but on Friday, during the second Test against England, the skipper opted for a completely different approach. With India lacking batting experience in the absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, Rohit opted to play defensively.
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The strategy, however, backfire as he walked back to the hut after a drab knock of 14 from 45 with a strike rate of 34.15 as he became the first Test scalp for debutant Shoaib Bashir.
England legend Pietersen was livid with Rohit’s approach and lambasted the India captain for missing out on crucial runs on a pitch that assisted batters on Day 1.
“It doesn’t matter who you get out to, you can get out to anybody. I think he’d be kicking himself because there were plenty of runs to be had here. On this wicket, against a very young and inexperienced bowling attack, he will be looking at his dismissal and thinking, ‘How on earth did I get myself out here?’” Pietersen said on JioCinema.
Rohit was dismissed when he ended up edging a turning ball to backward square leg while he was trying to glance it away.
Pietersen said his dismissal was a result of “lazy” batting as Rohit failed to show intent during his stay at the crease.
“That (the dismissal) was quite lazy. Yes, it is instinctive to knock the ball towards the leg side. But there was no urgency in what led to the dismissal. There was no urgency to try and get off the strike. These guys are expansive from ball one in T20 cricket, they play so beautifully. We have not seen huge spin, massive bounce, or anything that should pose any fear in the batter’s mind.”
Pietersen was kind in his verdict on out-of-form Shubman Gill, who cracked 34 off 46 balls before falling to James Anderson.
“Gill played nicely, I thought. There was an intensity in him. There was a lack of intensity in Rohit; it looked like his innings was in slow motion,” said the former England captain.
