Rohit on 'self-destructive' mode, needs to score to save Test place: Manjrekar
FORMER INDIAN BATSMAN Sanjay Manjrekar on Thursday said Rohit Sharma is on a self-destructive mode and the batsman has made it difficult for himself to stay in India's Test team.
"He would be hoping for a second innings and he gets an opportunity to bat and he needs to score to save his Test place. It has come to that situation where the selectors will be thinking hard if Rohit Sharma deserves a test place," Manjrekar said, according to PTI.
Rohit's dismissal in the first innings of the fourth Test sparked a series of debates over his inclusion in the Test side. After being dropped by Amla first, Rohit went for a big shot that went straight into the hands of Imran Tahir at long-on off Dane Piedt's bowling.
"What goes against him is the way he gets out. Even today, at a crucial juncture trying to hit a bowler for a six and getting out. His game is built on lofted shots. the sixes and big shots are part of his DNA, his basic game."
Rohit's limited-overs talent has been unquestionable, but his Test numbers suggest the batsman has a long way to go in terms of temperament and patience, the attributes of Test cricket. The Mumbai batsman has often gifted his wickets easily to the bowlers.
"What he has struggled to do is rein it in. In England also he got out while playing a big shot. He plays a lot of them in other format of the game. He is almost on self-destruction mode," he said.
Meanwhile, Manjrekar was impressed with Proteas off spinner Piedt, and said that the youngster should have played earlier in the series.
Piedt, who is playing only his second Test, was on a rampage on the opening day of the fourth Test, claiming four crucial wickets and dismantling India's top order.
"Dane Piedt seems to be a good find for South Africa. I think the visitors made a mistake by not playing him earlier in the series. He seems to be an accurate bowler and if there is some purchase for the spinners from the pitch, he can trouble the batsmen," Manjrekar said.
The former cricketer-turned-commentator also praised the Kotla pitch.
"I think the Kotla pitch has been the best in the series. There is not as much turn as Mohali and Nagpur and there is some help for the fast bowlers too which was evident with the use of short balls by Morne Morkel," he said.
"The highlight of day-one was the way the visitors bowled. Kyle Abbott bowled with a lot of discipline. He bowled a strict line outside the off-stump."
Although India's performance with the bat disappointed him, Manjrekar was particulary impressed by Ajinkya Rahane, who anchored the Indian innings with his unbeaten knock of 89 on Day 1.
"India once again witnessed a mini-collapse, but it was good to see most of the Indian batsmen looking to apply themselves. Only Rohit Sharma got out to a bad shot. Rest of the batsmen looked to apply themselves," he said.
"Ajinkya Rahane was the star for India and he controlled the innings. If he goes on to score a century, it will be the first individual hundred of this series."
