IND vs AUS: Ravi Shastri makes big statement on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's futures after duo's inconsistent run

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels that Virat Kohli will play Test cricket for another “three-four more years” but said that current skipper Rohit Sharma might need to take a call on his career once the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series conclude.

Kohli scored an unbeaten century in the first Test in Perth, but since then, the former captain has endured scores of 7, 11,3, 36 and 5. Rohit, who skipped the first Test due to the birth of his second child, has also struggled to find form with scores of 3,6,10, 3 and 9.

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‘Virat will play for some time: Shastri’

“No, I think Virat Kohli will play. Virat will play for some time, forget the way he got out today. I think he will play for 3 or 4 more years,” Ravi Shastri told official broadcasters Star Sports.

“As far as Rohit is concerned, it’s a call. At the top of the order, his footwork isn’t the same. He is probably, at times, a little late in meeting the ball. So it’s his call at the end of the series.

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“But, having said, this Australian team want it badly. The captain wants it badly. The determination in his eyes was evident even when he was batting yesterday. He was not going to give it away,” added Shastri. On Monday, the fifth day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Rohit was dismissed by Pat Cummins after getting a leading edge off the bat onto the hands of Mitchell Marsh at gully.

“This is the mode of dismissal. Rohit Sharma, at his best, that front foot would be closer to the pitch of the ball. There’s a trigger movement and then the front foot stays planted. So the bat goes at the ball, so you are playing away from the body,” Shastri said on Rohit’s dismissal.

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“They have bowled well at him. You can say ‘try and attack the bowling’. But, they gave you nothing. This is the best I think Australia have bowled in one spell as a unit,” stated the 62-year-old.

The duo’s poor form also led to netizens speculating on their retirement, with “Happy Retirement” trending on “X”. Here are a few reactions:

Kohli and Sharma have won us many matches. But with due respect , it’s time.

Had Truth- we would have won BGT had Bumrah continued to lead.

Last time also it was Rahane , pant , ashwin , Vihari n washi who won us ..

— Gurmeet Chadha (@connectgurmeet) December 30, 2024

Literally he is mentally done
Same thing for 4 years ain't a joke

Happy Retirement 💐 pic.twitter.com/jyiSW9Od6T

— Sonusays (@IamSonu____) December 30, 2024

Rohit & Virat retire from Tests. Thank you for the memories 🏏🇮🇳 Happy Retirement #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/hMzuy9U9cm

— Ꭺʀɢʜʏᴀ (@ARGHYA421) December 30, 2024

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli it’s time to for Happy Retirement Please move to any other country you wish

Bumrah time to rebel and create your own team Leave this India PR team

Please form real Indian team where players selected based on performance not on their PR#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/b1WkpBmzMs

— Yanika_Lit (@LogicLitLatte) December 30, 2024

The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series is level 1-1 after three matches. India won the first Test by 295 runs , whereas Australia thumped India by 10 wickets in the second Test. The third Test ended in a draw. At the time of writing this report, India were 132/6 on Day five of the fourth Test in Melbourne, with Australia having set the visitors a target of 340.