For starters, I am a huge Rohit Sharma fan.
I always have been.
The thought of Rohit playing test cricket at No.6 after this long break was really exciting for me. I was hoping him to own this place after all these years. Yet, on the afternoon of 5th January, I was blown away by the decision to drop Rahane for Rohit and playing 5 bowlers including Hardik pandya.
That was huge!
To drop our best batsman outside subcontinent for the form of Rohit was something I couldn't think of. I was just hoping that Rohit would make this decision worthwhile by producing some fine performance. Twice he had the stage for him to own, to take the No.5 position for himself, yet he didn't.
And that's what frustrates a fan. To be fair to him he played himself in really well in the first innings. But the second innings dismissal sums up his outing. Especially when the hopes were so high as something historical was within reach.
So what does Virat Kohli do now?
Somehow you have to go back to Rahane. He is the best overseas batsman for us. But if Rahane comes in, who goes out? Dropping Rohit after just one match is unfair as well.
Who else to drop then?
Hardik Pandya has done everything that has been asked of him. His 93 brought us back in the game and the way he bowled, he looks like the long desired good prospect for the future.
Would you drop him and play Rohit at 6 with four bowlers. That leaves a lot of workload for the bowlers. We have to find a way to keep Bhuvi fresh and use him smartly.
Can we drop Ashwin? No we can't. No matter where we play, a quality spinner is always handy to plug one end. And an Indian team without a spinner would be unimaginable.
So will we go with the same eleven dropping Rahane again and backing Rohit to fire? That would be really absurd.
Please no. Not again!
To be fair to Rohit Sharma, ever since he started opening he has been the best in the world. With the numbers, he is the top of the list. But there's something about him isn't it.
Given on a big match day, will we be able to say "Right here's is Rohit Sharma and he's going to win it for us today".
Sadly No. Not yet.
He is growing in stature. And producing staggering numbers and becoming far more consistent. But, he is yet to reach there. There's always some uncertainty associated with him. I wish he breaks that jinx and reach there soon. The sooner he does, greater the fun we will be having.
So cometh the second test at Pretoria, I believe Rohit Sharma should play at no. 6 if India is going in with 4 bowlers theory. But I believe the captain wants the luxury of 5 bowlers and hence it should be Rahane who should be coming back at No. 5 in place of Rohit.
It makes me feel bad to see Rohit dropped yet again, but if the team does well with the balance they get by paying this eleven and they do well, then that joy matters more.
That's what a cricket fan would want. I am one. So sadly that's the way to go for me as a Rohit fan.
Yet to watch the team do well and attain glory rather than just competing, on any given day I could trade that feeling !..
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