Former India National Cricket Team batter Sunil Gavaskar batted for the overhaul of the Test team if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fail in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He said that if the stalwarts don’t perform, then the new-look Indian team should be there from the England tour next year.
The time is ticking for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the clouds have started to loom over their place in the Indian Test team. Both the players, being in their late 30s, struggled to get going in the entire home Test season and looked terrible with the bat against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
The place of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Indian Test team came under scanner after the India National Cricket Team faced a thrashing at the hands of the New Zealand National Cricket Team. They suffered a 3-0 whitewash, which happened for the first time in the history of Indian cricket.
As per the various reports, the ultimatum has been given to both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It is reported that the India National Cricket Team will be looking for new players if both fail to perform in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and the team doesn’t reach the final of the World Test Championship.
It is learned that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have already played their last home Test and should they fail in Australia, they won’t be in squad for England tour. In the home Test season, Rohit managed 133 runs in 10 innings, and Kohli amassed 192 runs.
If they don’t score runs in Australia, there will be a clamour for a new-look Indian team – Sunil Gavaskar on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Sunil Gavaskar also feels that if both the players couldn’t score runs in Australia, youngsters should be given the opportunity. He believes that time is ticking for both the legends and that it will be tougher for them than the guys in their early 20s or early 30s. Speaking to India Today, he explained:
“Definitely yes. If they don’t score runs in Australia, there will be a clamour for a new-look Indian team to start from the tour of England,”
“It’s ticking for everybody. It’s not just them. But, because they are in their 30s or mid-30s, it will be tougher for them than the guys in their early 20s or early 30s. But, the clock is ticking for everybody. Which is why I say, the more you are playing, the more you will be prepared to meet the demands of modern-day cricket.”
This is one of those rare series where both of them have not been able to score runs – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar however, didn’t dwell much into the poor form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, saying that it’s understandable to have a bad time and pointed out it was the rarest of series when both didn’t get runs. He added:
“Totally understandable (focus on Kohli and Rohit’s failures). This is one of those rare series where both of them have not been able to score runs (Kohli and Rohit). Don’t forget, Kohli got a 70 in the second innings in Bengaluru. It’s just one of those rarities where both these stalwarts have not been able to make significant contributions.”
A bad patch comes to everybody – Sunil Gavaskar
Further talking about the same, Sunil Gavaskar stressed the fact that a bad patch can come for even good players. But he believes that how both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will come back will reveal their character. He feels that the Australia series will determine the fate of the Indian team ahead. He elaborated:
“Something like this… look, a bad patch comes to everybody. Sometimes, a couple of bad patches can happen. That’s what sporting life is all about. But, how you come back from those bad patches tells how good a player you are and your character as a sportsperson. What we are going to see in Australia is going to be interesting. What we are going to see in Australia will determine the future of the Test team.”
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