Dinesh Karthik concerned about Rohit Sharma's shot selection, not form
What's the story
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has defended Rohit Sharma's performance in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand.
Despite a disappointing run with just one half-century to his credit in this series, Karthik insists Sharma is not out of form.
He attributes the captain's underperformance to poor shot selection rather than a lack of skill or technique.
Performance breakdown
Analysis of Sharma's performance
Karthik's comments came after Sharma was dismissed for a mere 18 runs in the first innings of the Mumbai Test match.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, the former cricketer argued an out-of-form player wouldn't be able to execute the kind of shots Sharma has been playing during his brief spells at the crease.
This suggests it's not a matter of form but rather decision-making in shot selection that's affecting his performance.
Expert insight
Karthik highlights Sharma's strengths and weaknesses
Further emphasizing Sharma's strengths, Karthik said, "Backfoot punch off a good ball, a slight error in length and he is hitting a cover drive. So he is getting into good positions."
However, he also highlighted an area of concern in Sharma's game - his tendency to close the face on balls pitched on the fourth stump.
This technical issue has been flagged as a potential reason for his recent dismissals.
Additional concerns
Kumble and Doull express concerns over Sharma's technique
Another former Indian cricketer, Anil Kumble, also spotted a technical flaw in Sharma's batting.
He observed that balls holding their line from a particular angle have always troubled the skipper.
Simon Doull pointed out that Sharma's average against right-arm pace bowlers in 2024 was just 24, further emphasizing his struggles in this Test series.