Having a strong leadership unit, especially with players who have more than a decade of experience, is a luxury that most teams lack. However, for India, it came as a boon with Virat Kohli convincing Rohit Sharma to opt for the new ball, one delivery after the captain had rejected the idea.
Boosted by Nitish Kumar Reddy’s maiden century, India came out of the box flying for the second innings of the Boxing Day Test. The visitors had hosts on the ropes at 91/6 and were looking at a target of close to 250. However, Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins put together a 57 run partnership to bring Australia back into the game. At 173/9, India looked like they had a proper chase on their hands but Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon stitched together an unbeaten 55-run stand at stumps on Day 4.
During the partnership, Australia went past the 80-over mark yet again in the series which gave India the option of opting for the new ball. Rohit, however, decided against it stating, “New ball leke fayda nahi hai. Ab kal hi lenge (There is no point of taking the new ball. We will take it tomorrow).” One ball in though, Virat Kohli was seen having a word with his skipper and making a case for the new ball to be taken.
Not only did Rohit concede and opt for the new ball, India even claimed Lyon’s wicket, albeit on a no ball. Twitter picked up on the exchange and jumped on to provide their views.
New ball decision was influenced
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Correct
New ball lene se kya nuksan tha bhai Rohit ? #INDvsAUS
— virat (@imviiirat) December 29, 2024
If Boland can stay on with ease, the least Rohit can do tomorrow is see off the new ball. #BGT2024
— Regista (@Regista_06) December 29, 2024
No third man
No third man after taking the new ball , Kudos captain Rohit 🫡🤡
— Hari (@CriCxH4ri) December 29, 2024
Need to learn
Rohit Sharma should learn one or two thing from Nathan Lyon. Not only in off-spin bowling but also in how to play new ball in test cricket.#INDvsAUS
— Naram Chaara (@NaramChaara) December 29, 2024
Why Nathan Lyon is playing better than Rohit with new ball
— TR 23🇮🇳 (@kop_for_ever) December 29, 2024
I know
What did I tell you. I know Rohit more than anyone else. He was just waiting ki kab me Bumrah ko firse laau and new ball was a good excuse 🤣🤣 https://t.co/IUZY3VVD2R
— Archer (@poserarcher) December 29, 2024
Not comfortable at all
Cummins not comfortable with total; will declare at stumps. Starc niggle also means he wants less overs to bowl as Day 5 has 98 overs to bowl
Jaiswal drop catches mean India not comfortable with team batting 6-8 overs of new ball
So, both Cummins and Rohit got what they wanted— Aditya Jakki (@adityajakki) December 29, 2024
Rohit said kal lenge new ball 😭🤣😂
— ₚ™️ (@Peaked_Kohli) December 29, 2024
