Sunil Gavaskar's Apt Reply As Rohit Sharma Gets Labelled "Casual" Over New Zealand Show

Rohit Sharma’s performance during India’s 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand raised concerns, with some critics labeling his approach as "casual." Rohit’s attacking style and the manner of his dismissals during the series led to suggestions that he wasn’t applying himself enough. However, former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar defended Rohit, rejecting the idea that his batting was casual.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Gavaskar explained that Rohit's elegance and effortless shot-making style sometimes made his batting appear too easy, which could be misinterpreted as a lack of seriousness. Gavaskar drew a parallel with the legendary David Gower, who faced similar criticisms despite being a classy batsman. "It used to happen with David Gower all the time. Lovely, easy-on-the-eye batsman. So, every time he got out, they would say, 'oh, he doesn't bother,'" Gavaskar said, emphasizing that players like Rohit, who make batting look simple, are often misunderstood.

Rohit himself addressed the issue of his shot selections, admitting that he wasn't at his best but also making it clear that he had no regrets about his approach. "Shot selection in this particular match wasn’t up to the mark, starting from me," he said. However, he added that his aggressive style had earned him success in the past, and he would continue to back it despite the failures in this series. "I played a bad shot. But I don’t regret it, honestly speaking, because that has given me a lot of success in the past," Rohit explained.

Gavaskar’s defense highlights the complexities of assessing players like Rohit, who play with a natural flair that can sometimes be mistaken for a lack of focus.