Former Australian cricketer Kerry O’Keeffe has shed light on Australia’s successful strategy to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade. The home side clinched the series 3-1, with their targeted approach toward Indian skipper Rohit Sharma playing a pivotal role. O’Keeffe, a renowned cricket analyst, had predicted Australia’s plans to neutralize Indian captains, and his insights proved accurate as Sharma endured a disastrous campaign Down Under.
Rohit’s Toughest Tour: A Career Low in Australia
Rohit Sharma, who joined the Indian team after the first Test due to the birth of his second child, managed only 31 runs in five innings at a dismal average of 6.2—his worst in Australia. The 37-year-old skipper’s struggles culminated in him opting out of the final Test in Sydney, leaving his future as India’s Test captain uncertain.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, O’Keeffe pointed out that Australia has long been a challenging venue for players in their mid-30s, particularly those grappling with poor form. Sharma, who entered the series following underwhelming performances against Bangladesh and New Zealand, became an easy target for the Australian bowlers.
Australia’s Long-Standing Tactic to Break Captains
O’Keeffe highlighted that targeting opposition captains has been an age-old strategy for Australia. “If you look at the series they’ve won, this tactic has consistently worked. Breaking the opposition captain mentally and making them ineffective gives Australia an upper hand,” O’Keeffe remarked.
While Australia had failed to disrupt Ajinkya Rahane during the 2020/21 series or Jasprit Bumrah in the Perth Test opener, they succeeded with Sharma this time. Comparing him to other skippers, O’Keeffe said, “They couldn’t break Rahane, who led India to a historic series win, or Bumrah, who was simply too good. But with Sharma, they brought him down straight away, to the extent that he withdrew from the final Test.”
Rohit Sharma Joins an Unwanted Club
Rohit now finds himself in a group of captains who have struggled against Australia’s aggressive tactics. O’Keeffe noted parallels with Pakistan’s Shan Masood, West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite, and New Zealand’s Tim Southee, all of whom faced similar fates during their respective series against Australia.
“Australia’s plan was clear—they targeted Sharma right from the start and succeeded. It empowered them and ensured they dominated the series,” O’Keeffe concluded.
The Road Ahead for Rohit Sharma
With India’s Test captaincy in flux, Sharma’s future in the longest format remains uncertain. The Australian tour served as a harsh reminder of the challenges of maintaining form and composure at the highest level, especially against a team known for its psychological warfare.
