Rohit Sharma's shot selection draws criticism from former cricketer

NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that India's batting let the team down in the third and final ODI against New Zealand, with skipper Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Rohit Sharma failing to make an impact.

Chopra singled out Rohit, emphasising that the team needed runs from the senior opener, particularly in the series-deciding clash. In the Indore match on Sunday, Rohit managed just 11, Gill scored 23, and Iyer could not reach double digits, being dismissed for 3, leaving India short in their chase against the Kiwis.

"Shubman Gill, Shreyas lyer, and Rohit Sharma not playing big knocks, I think that has let the team down. Rohit Sharma, there is no problem with him, but runs were required here. Runs were required in the last match," Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

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Chopra also pointed to Rohit's struggle with form in the New Zealand series, noting that he was dismissed playing aerial shots in all three matches, leaving Virat Kohli to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility. The veteran opener managed just 61 runs across three innings at an average of 20.33 and failed to register a single fifty in the series.

Rohit got starts in all three matches but gave away his wicket while trying to hit a big shot.

"It wasn't going to happen without him because two of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had to score runs. Kohli was standing alone, but Rohit got out. He got out in all three matches. He got out playing shots in the air all three times," he added.

Despite Rohit's lean patch in the New Zealand series, Gill came to his support, emphasising that the senior opener has been in excellent form since the Australia series. However, Gill acknowledged that Rohit struggled to convert his starts into big scores during the series against New Zealand.

"I think Rohit Sharma is in terrific form, even right through from the Australia series, even in the South Africa series. I think, as I said, you won't always be able to convert the starts that you get. And I think Rohit got some starts in this New Zealand series as well. As a batsman, you always want to convert those starts and always want to make it count and make it into hundreds. But it's not possible to do it every time. But at the same time, that's something that you always strive to do," Gill told the reporters.