ADELAIDE, Dec 8: Following India’s 10-wicket defeat to Australia in the second Test, captain Rohit Sharma emphasized that Jasprit Bumrah cannot bear the entire burden of bowling alone. During the Australian innings, Bumrah was the only standout bowler, taking four wickets. Rohit, speaking at the post-match press conference, stated, “Bumrah cannot do it all by himself. It’s unreasonable to expect him to bowl from both ends. Others also need to contribute and share the responsibility. There will be days when he doesn’t take wickets.”
Young bowler Harshit Rana faced criticism after conceding 86 runs in just 16 overs, but Rohit defended him, insisting it’s unjust to evaluate Rana solely on this one match. “It’s not fair to judge Harshit based on his performance in just one Test. He hasn’t done anything wrong, and we shouldn’t drop him without cause. He faced a strong player (Travis Head) who exerted pressure on him. He has the heart and determination,” Rohit said.
There have been suggestions to call up Mohammed Shami urgently; however, Rohit mentioned that Shami is currently dealing with swelling in his knee. “We are keeping an eye on him, and we don’t want to rush him back,” Rohit explained. “The decision will be made based on the advice of the BCCI medical team,” he added, appearing cautious as pressure mounts for Shami’s return.
Regarding a verbal exchange between Siraj and Head after Siraj’s aggressive send-off following Head’s century, Rohit advised against overanalyzing the situation. Head claimed he simply congratulated Siraj with a “well bowled,” while Siraj accused Head of dishonesty. Rohit said, “There is a fine line between being aggressive and over-aggressive. As captain, it’s my role to ensure that no one crosses that line. A few words exchanged is normal. Siraj knows his responsibilities and will perform for the team,” he affirmed.
When further pressed by Australian media, Rohit responded, “In matches between India and Australia, such incidents are commonplace. My focus is on the overall perspective, not just one moment.” (Agencies)
