Sunil Gavaskar lines up Rohit Sharma after brain fade at Gabba

Gavaskar was aghast at the reckless manner in which Sharma played. Former India batsman turned analyst Sanjay Manjrekar labelled it “inexcusable”.

Adding to their frustration, Sharma’s departure came two balls after he had sent Lyon to the boundary, so the need to take risks should not have been there. By stationing Mitchell Starc well inside the long-on rope, the Australians preyed on Sharma’s ego, daring the explosive batsman to hit over the top.

“Why? Why? Why? That’s an unbelievable shot. That’s an irresponsible shot,” Gavaskar said on Channel Seven.

“There is a fielder there at long-on, there is a fielder there at deep square-leg. You’ve just hit a boundary a couple of deliveries earlier, why would you play that shot? You’re a senior player, there’s no excuse, absolutely no excuse for this shot.

“An unnecessary wicket, gifted away. Totally unnecessary.”

In a series dominated by the bowlers, scores of 26, 52 and 44 are a waste for a player who has appeared as comfortable as Sharma. It continues his trend in Australia of failing to cash in once set. Of his 13 Test innings in Australia, nine have fallen in the range of 26 to 63 not out.

The Australians could not contain their jubilation at removing one of the most destructive batsmen in the game.

“This is Test match cricket. You have to start, you have to convert it into a big hundred, particularly when the opposition has 369,” Gavaskar said.

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“Clearly this was a premeditated shot because he was down the pitch before the ball was released.”

It came after India’s bowlers had defied the odds again with the wickets of Tim Paine, Cameron Green and Pat Cummins in quick succession to avoid a first-innings blowout.

A score in excess of 400 was on the cards as the stand between Paine and Green approached 100 but the Australians lost their final five wickets for 58.

India will need to bat well to overhaul Australia’s 369 but, given their third-string attack had just four games’ experience between them before this Test, the damage could have been far worse.