'I won't regret playing that shot' - Rohit Sharma on his dismissal off Nathan Lyon in Brisbane Test

The second day of the ongoing last Border-Gavaskar Test at the Gabba between India and Australia was marred by the rain. Though there was no play in the final session, the day was majorly dominated by the bowlers. Australia began the game at 274 for 5 and were eyeing a 400+ score but the visitors had other plans as Indian bowlers quickly cleaned up the opposition for 369 runs.

In the first innings, the two debutants Washington Sundar and T Natarajan produced a commendable show with the ball as they scalped three wickets each. The new addition in the team Shardul Thakur was also on point with a three-wicket haul to his name while Mohammed Siraj could manage just one.

With a mountain to climb, India had high hopes on their opening batsman Rohit Sharma. Just like the previous games, Rohit got a good start this time too but he failed to convert it into something substantial which created an uproar among the fans and the cricket fraternity.

The opening batsman is being heavily criticized on social media for playing a rash shot and leaving India in trouble. Rohit was set on the field after playing 74 balls and scoring 44 runs but he literally gifted his wicket to Nathan Lyon while trying to hit a six. However, the batsman doesn’t regret playing that shot and is satisfied with the way he constructed his innings.

“I reached where I wanted to reach, just that I did not connect with where I wanted to hit the ball. I was trying to pierce that long-on and deep square-leg fielder, I just did not connect with the way I would have loved to. I actually liked what I did today, before coming here, we knew it would be a good pitch to bat, of course, there would be bounce and carry to the keeper, but this is what I enjoy,” Rohit said during the virtual press conference.

My role in this team is to keep putting pressure on the bowlers: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma further explained that he likes to put pressure on the bowlers and this is what he was trying to do in the game. The right-hander believes that his job in the team is to keep scoring runs and relieve pressure from other batsmen, however, while doing so there are chances of making mistakes and that is what exactly happened today.

“Once I was in and I had played a few overs, I realized there was not much swing so I did little adjustment there, after that, it was an unfortunate dismissal, it is something I won’t regret. I like to put pressure on the bowler once I am in and that is my role in this team to keep putting pressure on the bowlers.

“The run-scoring has been slightly difficult for both the teams so someone needs to put their hand up and think about how to put pressure on the bowlers. In doing that, there is a chance of making mistakes but you should be ready to accept that. It was a plan so I actually have no regrets about playing that shot, it is something I like to, Nathan Lyon is a smart bowler, he bowled into me so I was not able to get the elevation,” Rohit Sharma concluded.