'Don't sit back and hide behind Bumrah': Rohit Sharma's animated chat with Siraj as India falters against Australia

During the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test against Australia, Indian captain Rohit Sharma displayed a moment of frustration. The incident took place during the drinks break, where a video capturing Rohit giving a motivational talk to pacer Mohammed Siraj went viral on social media.

In the video, Rohit can be seen approaching Siraj and gesturing towards him, indicating a sense of displeasure. This incident occurred following a strong fightback from Australia's lower order, which saw them recover from a precarious position of 91/6 to a respectable score of 228/9 by the end of the day. The video of Rohit's interaction with Siraj quickly gained traction on social media platforms, sparking widespread discussion among fans.

Attempting to decipher the conversation, cricket commentator Ricky Ponting remarked, "Have a look at Rohit Sharma here, this is the drinks break, before the tea interval. It looks like that was directed at Akash Deep as well, maybe Siraj. That was just after Bumrah was about to finish his spell. He is singling out the next guy, 'Right now, it's your turn, don't sit back and hide behind Bumrah, I need you to stand up and got the job done as well.' very animated."

"Don’t sit back and hide behind bumrah- I need you to stand up and get the job done as well." GREATEST CAPTAIN THE WORLD HAS EVER SEENhttps://t.co/C0bfJgvytb

— Kuljot (@Ro45Kuljot) December 29, 2024

Rohit faced criticism for his inability to control his reaction and for expressing frustration towards youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal, who dropped a crucial catch during Australia's second innings of the Boxing Day Test. The incident occurred as Australia lost wickets quickly, with Marnus Labuschagne, the last recognized batter, nicking the ball to Jaiswal in the slips, only for him to miss the catch. Despite Rohit's own struggles with the bat, he reacted angrily by throwing his arm in frustration and glaring at Jaiswal.

In the meantime, the Australian lower order managed to build a substantial 333-run lead, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the Boxing Day Test. Australia's number 8, 10, and 11 batters successfully faced nearly 35 overs, a performance that could prove crucial if India fails to excel in their batting on a pitch that has remained consistent throughout all four days of play.

Also read| WTC final scenarios: South Africa through; here’s what India, Australia need to do to book their ticket to Lord's