"Was I A Reactive Captain?": Dinesh Karthik Critiques Rohit Sharma's Leadership in Pune Test
In the first two Tests of the series, Rohit struggled significantly with the bat, emerging as one of India’s weakest performers. Karthik noted, “There is a fine line; this Test match was one where he was chasing the ball a little bit. He tried his best with whatever he could, but you have to say it wasn’t the best game for either him or Team India.”
Dinesh Karthik has openly criticized Rohit Sharma’s captaincy following India’s disappointing performance in the Test series against New Zealand. This series marked a significant low point for the Indian team, as it was the first time in 12 years that they lost a Test series at home, with the Kiwis winning the first two matches of the three-Test series. While India fought valiantly in the first Test, the second Test saw them suffer a heavy defeat.
Karthik, a former Indian wicketkeeper, did not hold back in his assessment of Rohit’s leadership after the Pune Test. He expressed concerns that Rohit’s inability to respond proactively to New Zealand’s intensity ultimately cost India the match. “Not at his best. I thought he had a very tough Test match; he did all he could. I could see there was a lot of pressure on him, and he didn’t score many runs either. Overall, it was not a great Test match. He will reflect and think, 'What could I have done better? Was I a reactive captain or a proactive captain?'” Karthik remarked during a discussion on Cricbuzz.
In the first two Tests of the series, Rohit struggled significantly with the bat, emerging as one of India’s weakest performers. Karthik noted, “There is a fine line; this Test match was one where he was chasing the ball a little bit. He tried his best with whatever he could, but you have to say it wasn’t the best game for either him or Team India.”
Following the two losses that sealed India’s fate in the series, Rohit took a more relaxed approach during the post-match press conference. He stated, “We are allowed one such performance in 12 years. If we were collapsing like this regularly, then we wouldn’t be winning at home. We have a lot of expectations. We are expected to win every game at home, and it is because of our performances.”
The criticism from Karthik highlights the increasing scrutiny on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy amid the team’s struggles. As the series unfolded, it became clear that India's historic dominance at home was under threat, prompting questions about the leadership and strategic decisions made during the matches.
