Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik reckons Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s low returns in the ongoing home summer are not down to poor form. Rohit was dismissed after scoring 18 runs by Matt Henry in the first innings of the third Test match against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, Bengaluru on Friday.

Rohit has managed only one fifty so far in the last nine Test innings and has failed to deliver the goods at the top of the order against Bangladesh and the Kiwis. However, Karthik reckons the quality shots which Rohit is playing, shows that he isn’t in poor form.

Rohit’s mundane performances while playing at home have raised concerns ahead of the all-important Australia tour.

Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz, “I won’t even for a second think that it is form. And I am saying that because of the shots that he is playing when he is lasting at the crease. When you are not in form, you cannot play the shots that he is playing. Backfoot punches off a good ball, a slight error in length and he is hitting a cover drive. So he is getting into good positions.”

Karthik reckons the shot selection is leading to Rohit’s downfall and the right-hander needs to turn a corner. Rohit has been getting squared by New Zealand’s fast bowlers and has failed to come up with consistent performances.

“What is happening between the ears and that is something that Rohit can only help himself. As we all know he is a world-class player, and the tempo that he plays is phenomenal. It is his choice of shots.”

“The ball was on the fourth stump, he ended up closing the face on it. And that is something that needs to be thought about because there were better shots on offer. Team India have had a very plain series with the ball and bat, not a good series and they are way better than that,” Karthik added.

New Zealand ended the second’s day play at 171-9, leading by 143 runs in the second innings.