Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have come under heavy criticism following the team's dismal Test series defeat to New Zealand.
Indian cricket’s star batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have been at the center of criticism following the team’s crushing loss in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. Both players failed to deliver significant performances, contributing to India's humiliating defeat on home soil, as they lost all the matches in the series.
With India now gearing up for a crucial Test series against Australia, concerns about the future of the experienced duo have surfaced. Several cricketing greats, including Sunil Gavaskar, have suggested that the upcoming five-match series against Australia could be a defining moment for the pair, potentially deciding their future in the Test format.
However, former Australian cricketer David Warner has offered a different perspective, asserting that "age is just a number" when it comes to both Kohli and Rohit. Warner acknowledged their talent and experience but emphasized that the two players would need to perform at their best if India is to have any chance of winning the upcoming series against Australia
“It's about using the crease; they are coming a bit wider and angling it in; bringing those slip cordons into play. I think time and again we have had some success in India and in Australia. But those two there hold the key to how India are going to go. Young opening batter Jaiswal as well… he's a talent."
"First time here; he likes to play the drive on the up so that will bring out the slips into play as well, but those two guys… Yes, age is just a number; they are at the backend. It's the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Their attitude, if it's on, they are two guys who are hard to stop. It's going to be a big summer for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma," Warner said on Fox Sports.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma concluded a disappointing home Test season just ahead of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, which is set to begin on November 22.
In the third and final Test of the series against New Zealand, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were dismissed for low scores once again. During India's chase of 147 runs, Rohit was out for just 11 runs, caught by Glenn Phillips off Matt Henry's bowling. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli fell for a mere one run off four balls, getting out to a delivery from Ajaz Patel. His ongoing struggles against spinners were evident as he offered an easy catch to Daryl Mitchell at slip.
These dismissals mark the end of a lackluster home season for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, which included series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. This underperformance raises concerns for the Indian team ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. A strong win in the series is essential if India aims to qualify for their third consecutive ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's next year.
In these five Tests, Rohit Sharma has managed just 133 runs at a disappointing average of 13.30, with only one half-century across 10 innings. His highest score in the season has been 52. His individual scores during this home season are: 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, and 11.
In Test cricket this year, Rohit Sharma has accumulated 588 runs from 11 matches and 21 innings, averaging a modest 29.40. His tally includes two centuries and two fifties, with a highest score of 131. This marks his lowest batting average in a calendar year since he began opening the batting in Tests in 2019.
Remarkably, however, this has been Rohit Sharma's best year in T20 cricket during the same period, with his average of 36.13 and strike rate of 154.66 both marking his highest figures in a calendar year.
(Source: NDTV)
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