Page 41 - The Indian EYE 011725

SPORTS JANUARY 17, 2025 | The Indian Eye 41

ROHIT & VIRAT

Experts back but have some doubts too

about the capacity and future of stars

The veterans have come under fire for an underwhelming Border-Gavaskar Trophy

campaign and overall, a very disappointing 2024/25 season of Test cricket

OUR BUREAU
Sydney
nce the backbone of India’s batting lineup,
Virat Kohli endured a tough series in Aus-
Otralia, managing just 190 runs at an average
of less than 24. This included an unbeaten century
in the first Test in Perth, but he struggled to main-
tain consistency throughout the series. Indian cap-
tain Rohit Sharma, who missed the Perth Test and
sat out the last game at Sydney, also had a forgetta-
ble series with many calling for the two veterans to
be dropped from the Test side.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli came under
fire for an underwhelming Border-Gavaskar Tro-
phy campaign and overall, a very disappointing
2024/25 season of Test cricket. Sharma (31 runs
in three matches and five innings at an average of
6.20) and Virat Kohli (190 runs in five matches and
nine innings at an average of 23.75 with a centu-
ry) lacked big time with the bat. Virat fell for the
outside-off-stump trap throughout the series, most
notably by pacer Scott Boland who dismissed him
four times.
Now, Ravi Shastri has shared his views on the
current stages of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s
Test careers following their dip in form during Virat fell for the outside-off-stump trap throughout the series, most notably by pacer Scott Boland
India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat to Aus-
tralia. Despite these challenges, Shastri believes who dismissed him four times (ANI)
the 36-year-old still has plenty to offer, though
he acknowledged Kohli’s difficulties against spin to Australia. Looking for potential solutions for “So that is a serious cause for concern. KL
on home soil and his technical issues outside off- the 36-year-old, cricketing great Ricky Ponting Rahul-Jaiswal is a better opening stand looking
stump in Australian conditions. agreed he had much to give, despite struggles at Rohit Sharma’s form,” he added. “I don’t think
Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri com- against spin at home and technical issues outside Rohit Sharma is making enough sacrifices to have
pared Kohli’s current struggles to those faced by off-stump in Australia. one final burst - the kind of sacrifices Rahul Drav-
former Australian captain Ricky Ponting during On Rohit Sharma’s future, former Indian id and Sachin Tendulkar made at the end of their
the later years of his career. Ponting averaged cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said that the Indian careers with regard to fitness and the preparation,”
39.48 over his final five years as a Test batter, sig- skipper will have to work hard on his defence and the 59-year-old concluded.
nificantly lower than his overall career average of counter-attacking game ahead of the England Former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay
51.85. Test tour later this year, noting that he is not mak- Bangar also feels that Rohit Sharma needs to de-
For Ravi Shastri, West Indies legend Brian ing enough “sacrifices” for “one final burst” in his termine if he still has the hunger to play Test crick-
Lara, who amassed 11,953 runs at an impressive career like legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul et and it should be visible in his form and actions.
average of 52.88, remains an example of a player Dravid did. Bangar said for Rohit, “When you are 37 years
who stayed true to his natural style until the very Manjrekar said, “He has opted out on form old, every failure hurts because a cricketer is a very
end of his career. “The only guy I thought who (during the Sydney Test) and it is not like things proud person. When he sees the kind of perfor-
just played the game where he saw the ball and are going to get easier. The next challenge is going mances he has had in the past but cannot replicate
smacked it was Brian [Lara],” he said, as quoted to be England. It will be that same line outside the them, and when young players are performing
by ICC. off-stump. That is a headache for the chairman of well, these factors weigh heavily on his mind. This
ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has also selectors. He has got to keep it simple and forget might have influenced his decision. He needs to
shared his thoughts on where Virat Kohli is at in the effect those decisions will have. He will have to determine whether he still has the hunger to play
his Test career following a further downturn in improve his defence and his counterattack game is Test cricket. If he does, that hunger must reflect in
his form in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss not working.” his actions.”

www.TheIndianEYE.com