Rohit Sharma vs Pat Cummins: How Has Aussie Great Made India Captain His Bunny?

Muskaan Bhatt∙ Updated: Dec 27 2024, 11:02 AM

Rohit Sharma has struggled against Pat Cummins in Tests (Source: AP Photos)Rohit Sharma has struggled against Pat Cummins in Tests (Source: AP Photos)

On Friday, Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma's awful form was on full-display in the on-going fourth and all-important Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Rohit, who demoted himself to No.6 for the second and third Test matches, returned to the opening spot after a dismal time. However, his return to the top spot was also marred by failure.

Rohit Sharma Fails At MCG, Yet Again vs Cummins

In the last three innings, the Indian captain has managed to score only 19 runs at an average 6.33 at No.6. Back in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at MCG, Rohit Sharma batted at No. 6, scoring a brilliant 63* off 114 balls, helping India declare at 443/7. His composed innings, including five boundaries, contributed significantly to India's dominant 137-run victory, though he managed only five runs in the second innings.

However, he failed to replicate the magic today despite promotion to the top-order, as Pat Cummins dismissed the Indian skipper for only three runs. This marked the seventh time Cummins has dismissed Rohit in Tests, thus highlighting the Indian captain's recurring issues against the Australian pacer. Rohit's failure to score runs in this series adds to his inconsistent form, especially after replacing the in-form KL Rahul at the opening spot.

Taking a closer look Rohit Sharma has had a mixed record against Pat Cummins across formats. In Tests, Cummins has been a persistent challenge for Rohit, dismissing him seven times in 199 balls, with the Indian captain averaging just 18.1. His struggles are evident, with Rohit failing to dominate. Cummins has also had the upper hand over him in T20Is, with the Indian batter managing only 44 runs in 24 balls.

However, in ODIs, Rohit has been far more dominant, amassing 178 runs from 232 balls at a decent strike rate of 76.7 and an average of 89.0. While, Rohit has thrived in ODIs, he has struggled significantly against Cummins in Tests and T20Is. 

Why has Rohit struggled against Cummins?

While age may have gotten the better of Rohit Sharma on these occasions, technical lapses in dealing with Pat Cummins must not be overlooked. The ageing factor has seen his reflexes reduce; it would have affected him in tackling such extreme pace. 

On a technical level, there's a weakness around off-stump which Cummins has acutely used in this series. In 2021, he had a much better understanding of his off-stump, but this has become loose in recent times, which is the main reason for consistent struggle against right-arm quicks from the Bangladesh series onwards. Also, when a batter is out of form, he cannot predict what is coming from the bowler, which makes him look out of place. This was a prime reason for his dismissal recently.

Rohit Sharma Enters An Unwanted List in Tests

  • 5 - Ted Dexter by Richie Benaud
  • 5 - Sunil Gavaskar by Imran Khan
  • 5 - Rohit Sharma by Pat Cummins*
  • 4 - Gulabrai Ramchand by Richie Benaud
  • 4 - Clive Lloyd by Kapil Dev
  • 4 - Peter May by Richie Benaud

Rohit Sharma has entered an unwanted list, becoming one of the few captains dismissed five times by an opposing captain in Tests. Pat Cummins has now dismissed him five times, joining notable names like Ted Dexter, Sunil Gavaskar, and others who have faced similar struggles against rival skippers.