“Your body is such as you get older” - Indian batting legend scrutinizes Rohit Sharma’s poor dismissal on Day 2 of 4th BGT 2024-25 Test

Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes that the age factor may have had a role to play in Team India skipper Rohit Sharma's early dismissal in the side's ongoing Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series (BGT) against Australia. The veteran batter returned to his usual opening spot after batting in the middle-order for the last two fixtures.

However, it didn't change his fortunes as his dismal run continued. Sharma was out in the second over of the Indian innings. He scored just three runs before falling to his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins.

Sharma lost his wicket while trying to play the pull shot, a stroke that is his mastery. He couldn't nail it this time around and got a top edge. Commenting on the dismissal, Gavaskar opined that the 37-year-old's body has slowed down with age.

Speaking to Star Sports, the cricketer-turned-commentator said (via TOI):

"That's a shot that he [Rohit Sharma] normally plays. The half-pull off the front foot. I think he probably got in two minds whether to go for the proper pull shot or not and then ended up just trying to tap it like catching practice. But that's what happens when you have a gap, when you're 36, 37 years old and you have a long gap between playing cricket.

"That is the reason why you're seeing that there is probably not the same sort of footwork as you would expect because your body is such as you get older. It reacts just a little bit slower. You know, the mind is there. Everything the mind tells you, but the body just doesn't do that. So, if you're being continuous at the age of 37, regularly, no problem. Because you know your bat-speed, everything. The moment you have a break, you must be very, very careful, very, very mindful."

Rohit Sharma has come under the scanner following his string of failures in the ongoing Australia tour. The right-handed batter has mustered 22 runs across four innings at an average of 5.50 in BGT 2024-25.

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"You've got to be switched on" - Ricky Ponting on Rohit Sharma's dismissal on Day 2 of 4th BGT 2024-25 Test

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting seemed unimpressed by Rohit Sharma's 'lazy' pull shot that cost him his wicket on Day 2 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test.

Ponting suggested that Sharma didn't seem fully committed to the stroke and went for a half-hearted attempt. Pointing out where the veteran opener erred, he told 7cricket:

"That's just a lazy, not switched on, not up for the moment type of shot. He's [Rohit Sharma] been known as one of the best hookers and pullers of the ball since he's made his debut but that's just not there. It's nothing. It's not committed, not really looking to be aggressive, he's just looking to tap it on the head.

"Might have held in the wicket yes, it might have seamed away from him a fraction. But if you're going to survive against this Australian attack, you've got to be switched on. You've got to be making good decisions. If you're not, they'll knock you over every time."

India finished at 164/5 at stumps on Day 2, still trailing Australia by 310 runs. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 6 and 4, respectively.