Former cricketers slam Rohit Sharma for "irresponsible shot"

Somya Kapoor

India opener Rohit Sharma has come under major scrutiny for throwing away his wicket against Australia in the fourth and final Test in Brisbane. Sharma was on 44 when he tried to accelerate and gave a catch to Mitchell Starc in the deep against Nathan Lyon. 

Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar criticised Rohit for his shot selection. "Considering the experience missing in the team, that shot from an experienced Rohit Sharma was inexcusable," Manjrekar wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, former skipper Sunil Gavaskar slammed the right-handed batsman for his “unbelievable shot”. 

"Why? Why? Why? That's an unbelievable shot. That's an irresponsible shot. There is a fielder there at long on, there is a fielder there at deep square leg," Sunil Gavaskar told Channel 7 on Saturday.

"You have just hit a boundary a couple of deliveries earlier and why would you play that shot? You're a senior player, there is no excuse, absolutely no excuse for that shot. An unnecessary wicket, an unnecessary wicket gifted away. Totally unnecessary," Gavaskar added.

India ended a rain-curtailed second day at 62/2 in reply to Australia’s 369 with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane at the crease. The home side hand concluded the proceedings on Day 1 at 279/5 with Tim Paine and Cameron Green at the crease. Paine scored an important fifty while Green missed out on a half-century by 3 runs to get out on 47. Earlier, Marnus Labuschange notched up a ton in the first innings. 

The Indian bowling attack produced some impressive performances with debutants T Natarajan and Washington Sundar bagging three wickets apiece. The four-match series is presently levelled at 1-1. 

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