Rohit Sharma will embark on his fourth away Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While his availability for curtain-raiser in Perth from November 22 remains doubtful, here are the batting stats of India’s captain Down Under.
Like his international white-ball career, especially in ODIs, Rohit’s second wind in Test matches began when he started to open against South Africa in 2019. He was an instant hit, smashing 176, 127, 14 and 212 in his first four innings.
Until India's home series against England earlier this year, Rohit had 2,552 runs at an average of 50.03, the most by any opener. His average also saw a 26.34 per cent rise from his pre-opening era's 39.6. Of these runs, 919 have come overseas at 43.76, the third-highest by an opener.
His most notable knock away from home came in the Oval Test against England in 2021. After India trailed the first innings by 99 runs, Rohit’s 127 off 256 balls helped India set up a match-winning target of 368 in the fourth innings. That knock was undoubtedly his best away from home.
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However, a string of low scores in his last 10 innings resulted in his average nosediving to 44.01. Rohit’s Test career is at an interesting crossroads. In addition to Rohit's questionable batting form, India lost their first-ever home series since 2012 under his captaincy against New Zealand recently.
A sterner Test awaits for Rohit in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Here’s how the India captain has fared with the bat in Test Cricket Down Under:
What's Rohit's record in Australia?
Out of 64 Tests Rohit has played so far, seven have come in Australia across three tours (2014/15, 2018/19 and 2021/22). He has made 408 runs in the country at 31.38, with three fifties evenly spread across the series. The first one came in a draw in Sydney in 2015 when India were undergoing a transition after MS Dhoni had stepped down as captain midway through the series. His best of 63 not out came in at No.6 in the 2018 Melbourne Test during India's maiden series win in Australia.
However, his mediocre numbers meant he was in and out of the side whenever India played in Australia. After sitting out for the first two Tests during their historic 2020/21 tour win due to injury, Rohit flew down to Australia to open in the remaining two Tests in Sydney and Gabba. That was his first overseas stint in the new role. He scored 26, 52, 44 and 7. While the numbers weren’t head-turning, he batted for 110, 137, 90 and 34 deliveries across the four innings, proving he has the technique and temperament to succeed as an opener in these conditions.
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