(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott did not mince words when assessing India skipper Rohit Sharma’s recent performance in the opening Test match of the ongoing series against England in Hyderabad. Despite Rohit’s notable starts in both innings, Boycott criticized his failure to convert them into substantial scores, attributing India’s loss partly to his captaincy and batting.
In the first innings, Rohit managed to score 24 off 27 balls, followed by a 39 off 58 in the second innings. Boycott emphasized Rohit’s struggle to translate promising beginnings into century scores, a concern amplified by Rohit’s tally of only two Test hundreds on home turf over the past four years.
“Their captain Rohit Sharma is nearly 37 and past his best. He makes pretty cameos but has only scored two Test hundreds at home in four years. They are also weak in the field. This India team is ripe for the taking, and England have a golden chance to be the first side to topple them on their own patch for 12 years,” Boycott wrote in his column for the Telegraph.
Boycott’s critique extended beyond Rohit’s performance, highlighting India’s vulnerabilities in the absence of key players like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami and Rishabh Pant. With Kohli opting out of the initial two matches due to personal reasons and Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul getting sidelined by injuries sustained during the first Test, Boycott sees England’s chances of toppling India on their home soil as more plausible than ever.
“India badly miss Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja has a hamstring injury and will not play the second Test,” he added.
Amidst the tension brewing in the Indian camp ahead of the second Test in Visakhapatnam that is scheduled to commence on February 2, Boycott exuded confidence in England’s ability to capitalize on India’s vulnerabilities and secure a rare victory on Indian soil. With India facing a deficit of key players and England riding high on the momentum of a remarkable win, Boycott sees the upcoming Test as pivotal for England’s chances of dethroning India’s formidable home record.
“India are due a defeat at home. The signs are good, as they have lost Kohli, Jadeja, Mohammad Shami and Rishabh Pant and are playing opponents full of confidence after a remarkable win. England must take this rare opportunity,” Boycott stated.