‘Australia are bullying them’ - Simon Katich slams Rohit Sharma’s reactive captaincy

Australia posted 474 runs in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test against India at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Debutant Sam Konstas started the party with a phenomenal half-century off 52 deliveries while Usman Khawaja, who was struggling to find form, scored 57. Batting at three, Marnus Labuschagne made 72 runs. The top order set the momentum, which Steve Smith later capitalised on, and made 140 runs.

Indian bowlers meanwhile looked clueless against him. Mohammed Siraj particularly struggled against him and so did Akash Deep, but the latter eventually picked up the prized wicket. Siraj, on the other hand, ended up conceding 122 runs in 23 overs without any wickets. Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma was also under the scanner for his reactive captaincy.

Former cricketer Simon Katich called him out and mentioned that India were dismantled in the first innings and added that the Australian batters bullied them in the middle. He also lauded Smith for his valuable knock and termed it as a ‘batting masterclass’.

Check Out - WATCH: Virat Kohli reacts to ‘you are a wan*er’ chants at MCG

“India has been dismantled here and it's started at the top with Rohit. It's not been proactive captaincy at all. It has been reactive and they look like they are in disarray. Australia are bullying them,” Katich said on commentating on SEN cricket. 

“Yeah, he certainly did. He looked brilliant on day one, 139 not out. It was a master class. It was back to his best. Treated the Indian bowlers with contempt and it was a phenomenal knock,” he said when asked about Smith.

Rohit departed for three runs

Rohit departed after scoring only three runs in the first innings with the bat. The 37-year-old moved to the top of the order in search of form but the move failed as Pat Cummins picked up his wicket. The Indian skipper attempted to play a pull shot but failed to time it as Scott Boland picked up a regulation catch. 

Check the post below: 

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is gone for just three runs! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/m1fLiqKLO7

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2024