"Can't Have It Both Ways": Wasim Jaffer Defends Rohit Sharma's Shot Selection After Brisbane Dismissal

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer on Sunday defended Rohit Sharma after he copped criticism for the manner of his dismissal in India's first innings against Australia in the fourth Test in Brisbane. Rohit Sharma was batting fluently and looked set for a big score when he decided to step down the track to try and hit Nathan Lyon, but only managed to find the fielder at long-on, leaving India at 60/2 towards the end of Day 2 of the 4th Test, in response to Australia's 369. While Rohit was criticised for his "irresponsible" shot selection, Jaffer took to social media to speak up in favour of India's vice-captain.

"You can't have it both ways. You can't decide/change your stand based on the outcome of the shot," Jaffer tweeted. "The key to batting is finding an approach that works more times than it fails and then sticking to it," he added.

"Rohit has found his approach and team backs him to play that way," Jaffer concluded.

You can't have it both ways. You can't decide/change your stand based on the outcome of the shot.The key to batting is finding an approach that works more times than it fails and then sticking to it. Rohit has found his approach and team backs him to play that way. #AUSvsIND

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 17, 2021

Earlier, Sunil Gavaskar went on a rant on air after Rohit's dismissal, saying there was no excuse for a shot like that from a "senior batsman".

"Why? Why? Why? That's an unbelievable shot. That's an irresponsible shot. There's a fielder there at long on, there is a fielder there at square leg. You've just hit a boundary a couple of deliveries earlier, why would you play that shot? You're a senior player, there's no excuse, absolutely no excuse for this shot," Gavaskar said while on air during Day 2 of the ongoing Gabba Test.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting also opined that Rohit Sharma should have converted his start and got a big score.

"It's easy to say that's the way he plays but you've got to be better than that," cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying on Saturday.

"If you want to be a really good, consistent Test match batsman you can't just be going and throwing what could have been such a promising innings away like he did," he had added.

Rohit Sharma himself said that he had no regrets about the shot he played and added that his role in the team was to put pressure on the opposition bowlers.

"I reached where I wanted to reach, just that I did not connect with where I wanted to hit the ball. I was trying to pierce that long-on and deep square-leg fielder, I just did not connect with the way I would have loved to. I actually liked what I did today, before coming here, we knew it would be a good pitch to bat, of course, there would be bounce and carry to the keeper, but this is what I enjoy," Rohit said after Day 2 of the match.

""Once I was in and I had played a few overs, I realised there was not much swing so I did little adjustment there, after that, it was an unfortunate dismissal, it is something I won't regret. I like to put pressure on the bowler once I am in and that is my role in this team to keep putting pressure on the bowlers," he added.

India managed to score 336 in response to Australia's 369, thanks to a 123-run 7th wicket stand between Shardul Thakur and debutant Washington Sundar. Australia finished Day 3 at 21/0, with a 54-run lead.

Topics mentioned in this article

Australia vs India 2020-21 Australia vs India, 4th Test Rohit Sharma Sunil Gavaskar Ricky Ponting Wasim Jaffer Cricket