Rohit Sharma's performance at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been disappointing. The Indian captain opted to relinquish his opening position to KL Rahul, resulting in modest scores of 3 and 6 while batting at No. 6 in the middle order. Additionally, India's defeat in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, which lasted just over two days, has placed Rohit under scrutiny once more. Under his leadership, India has suffered losses in their last four Tests, significantly diminishing their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final. To rectify the situation, one potential adjustment could involve reinstating Rohit to his preferred opening position; however, this suggestion appears to be met with scepticism, as it is reported that the captain is experiencing 'limited footwork' and 'slowing reflexes.'

Rohit last achieved a century for India in February of this year, and aside from a few moments of brilliance, he has faced challenges in maintaining form. Of particular concern is the manner in which he has been dismissed—often getting squared up and bowled—raising doubts about his current capabilities. The question remains whether facing a new red ball at the Gabba will alleviate his struggles; however, it is unlikely to provide relief and may instead exacerbate his difficulties.

A qualified batting coach, speaking to PTI on the condition of anonymity, remarked, "Rohit Sharma has exhibited limited footwork throughout his career, even during his peak. At 37 and a half years old, it is evident that his reflexes have diminished, causing him to misjudge the length of deliveries slightly. The same player may present a different image in the IPL, where he could still achieve a rapid 70 runs off 35 balls for the Mumbai Indians against domestic bowlers with mid-130s pace."

Rohit's dismissals, even in India, reveal a concerning trend where he frequently gets squared up. This issue can be attributed to the shortening of his front-foot stride as he ages. For instance, a pronounced front-foot stride of approximately three feet enables a batsman to effectively counteract the angle of deviation of a delivery off the pitch. Conversely, a reduced stride of merely a foot and a quarter permits the same delivery to either shape in or out. Consequently, a world-class bowler will exploit both the inside and outside edges of the bat.

Why is No. 6 better for Rohit Sharma?

Recently, Rohit has adopted a more aggressive style in his batting. This shift began during the 2023 World Cup, where he provided India with explosive starts through rapid half-centuries. He continued this trend at the T20 World Cup, where his fifties against Australia and England significantly benefited the team; however, these same aggressive tendencies have also led to his downfall. The situation was markedly different with the pink ball, which tends to behave unpredictably under lights. The coach believes that positioning Rohit at number six is more advantageous than having him open, as it would enable him to maintain his attacking approach against an older ball, thereby greatly enhancing his chances of success.

"To be fair, if your stride is shorter and reflexes are declining, the Pink Kookaburra will make it even more challenging to endure. KL mentioned before the match that it comes off the surface much quicker than the Red Kookaburra and skids. With his current footwork, the Red Kookaburra would also move and seam at the Gabba if he were to open," he remarked.

"If he bats at No. 6, there is a strong likelihood that he will face either an old or semi-old Kookaburra, which will have reduced seam movement and will not pose much threat. He can then play his usual aggressive game and score quickly. If he comes in when the second new ball is taken, it indicates that both Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have bowled approximately 25 overs."

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