Rohit Sharma needs to have MS Dhoni’s unique quality to preempt bowling changes, says Sanjay Manjrekar

Rohit Sharma and Sanjay Manjrekar. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Sanjay Manjrekar opined that Rohit Sharma should take a leaf out of the legendary former India captain MS Dhoni’s book and learn the art of preempting bowling changes as New Zealand extended their dominance on Day 3 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday, October 18.

The bowlers gave the hosts a good start on Day 3 as they took four Kiwi wickets for just 53 runs. However, at 233/7, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee joined forces and orchestrated a resurgence for the visitors as they stitched a 137-run partnership off 132 balls to knock the stuffing out of the Indian team. The last four overs before Lunch yielded 58 runs as Rohit and his bowlers couldn’t stop the onslaught.

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Manjrekar took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) and said that Dhoni had a unique ability to make bowling changes before things would go out of control. The former India cricketer suggested that Rohit needs to add it to his repertoire.

“Dhoni had this very unique ability to preempt & make a bowling change before the damage went out of control. Rohit needs to bring that quality into his leadership,” the cricketer-turned-commentator wrote.

New Zealand takes mammoth 356-run first innings lead

Rachin Ravindra became the first New Zealand batter after Ross Taylor to score a Test century in India. The former Kiwi batter had achieved the feat in 2012. Ravindra got off to a brisk start and grew in confidence as his innings went on. He smashed 13 fours and four sixes to score a brilliant 134 off 157 balls. Southee also gave him excellent company as the seamer amassed 65 off 74 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.

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New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 402 in the second session. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav bagged three wickets apiece, while Mohammed Siraj scalped two for his efforts. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin accounted for one wicket each. India trail by 356 runs and will have to bat out of their skins in their second essay to take the game into the fourth innings.

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