"They are in disarray" - Former Australia batter criticizes Rohit Sharma's tactics on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former Australia batter Simon Katich has lambasted Rohit Sharma's captaincy as the Men in Yellow have solidified their position in the Boxing Day Test in the first innings itself. After dragging their way back into the match in the final session on Day 1, India relinquished the momentum they had as the hosts piled on the runs at the MCG.

From 311-6, Australia worked their way to 454-7 at Lunch on Day 2 (Friday, December 27) as Steve Smith scored his second consecutive hundred in the series. India looked flat and lifeless for the majority of the session, as their plans, coupled with Rohit's captaincy, have been far off the mark, which is reflected through the score.

Katich has opined that India are currently being bullied and criticized Rohit for his 'reactive' captaincy.

"India has been dismantled here and it's started at the top with Rohit. It's not been proactive captaincy at all. It's been reactive and they look like they are in disarray. Australia are bullying them," Katich said on-air for SEN Cricket.

Rohit Sharma's defensive approach and logic behind team selection have been panned out consistently by fans and pundits alike. In the ongoing clash, despite fielding two spinners, Washington Sundar was brought on as late as the 53rd over. The right-arm off-spinner was completely absent when the left-handed Usman Khawaja was cruising along in the first session.

Katich had called out Rohit Sharma and India for their poor tactics against Travis Head in the third Test as well

The former batter had pointed out India's poor tactics against Travis Head in the third Test at The Gabba and had criticized Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Siraj for not being on the same page.

"That is unbelievable from Mohammed Siraj because the over before he had a man right in at spot and he has run in and bowled what they were planning without a fielder there. That is dumb. Dumb cricket," Katich had said on Channel Seven (via Hindustan Times).

Even after the second Test in Adelaide, Katich had pointed out how Bumrah rotated the bowlers and got the most out of his resources in a better way when he led the side in the series opener in Perth in Rohit's absence.

"When you compare the two results, obviously, in Perth, Rohit Sharma missed out. And I thought Bumrah's captaincy, and particularly, the use of his bowlers in the length that they bowled, was far superior to what we saw in Adelaide. In Perth late on Day 1 when Australia were 7/67, India attacked the stumps and bowled much fuller and straighter lengths," Katich had said during an interaction with 'Around the Wicket' podcast (via NDTV).

With a mammoth first innings total on the horizon and an out-of-form and shaken-up batting order to come up, India's woes might just escalate in the coming days.