Rohit Sharma was the man who was recently crowned as the vice-captain of the Test squad for the Indian cricket team and was brought in the Playing XI to replace Test specialist Mayank Agarwal at the top of the batting order.

And even though Sharma managed to stick to the crease for the first 27 overs of the Indian batting innings, Indian fans were quick to troll him as he got out just 26 runs off 77 deliveries.

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Sharma spent 14 days in isolated quarantine after he made his journey to Australia weeks after the rest of the squad because he was recovering from a hamstring injury. 

Many doubted whether he was the right choice for such an important match given the fact that he’d not played international cricket for a long time. However, he looked really agile and active while fielding that came as a breath of fresh air for the Indian fans.

Another criticism to choose Sharma over Agarwal was the former’s unimpressive batting average in the longest format of the game on foreign soil. Ahead of the Sydney Test, Sharma’s overseas batting average in 33 innings was 26.32, mere decimals above his score in the first innings on Friday.

Here’s how the fans reacted to Sharma’s dismissal in the first innings:

1) Rohit Sharma at Home
2) Rohit Sharma Away from home#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/UE0HQBxP14

— Pranjal (@Pranjal_one8) January 8, 2021

Oh no. Rohit, on 26, has chipped one back to birthday boy Hazlewood ☹️

Australia break the 70-run opening stand.#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #AUSvIND

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 8, 2021

Rohit Sharma was averaging 26 with the bat outside of India, and was out for 26 via a c&b from Hazelwood. Talk about consistent #AUSvsIND #SydneyTest

— 𝗝𝗗𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟬 (@justind1980) January 8, 2021

Chin up Rohit Sharma u played welIts not easy to open an inning specially when u r playing after 300+odd day without practice just after hardquarantine

Fact is u played some amazing shots with ease ful of confidence
We take away positive&move forward#RohitSharma #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QsGwZWSsie

— 🄿 (@CricketGirl_45) January 8, 2021

What Can We Expect, If Someone Is Playing International Cricket After 342* Days...

Well Played @rohitsharma45 #AUSvIND #RohitSharma #Rohitions45 pic.twitter.com/pVnGncRCA2

— Rohit Sharma(Fan Page) (@rohitionss45) January 8, 2021

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