 "Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's form in Australia will have a big say on their future. Image: PTI")
Team India’s upcoming tour of Australia for five Test will be nothing short of a litmus test for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The senior batters in the Indian cricket team have had a horrid time in the recent 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand at home . Captain Rohit only scored 91 runs in three matches while Kohli collected 93 in six innings. Their poor technique against spin bowling was also exposed.
‘Virat and Rohit should retire’
If Rohit and Kohli fail in Australia as well then Indian cricket will be at a crossroads and former Indian fast bowler Karsan Ghavri feels that it should be the end of their Test cricket careers.
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Karsan Ghavri, who played 39 Tests and 19 ODIs for India, said if Rohit and Kohli fail to score runs on Australia tour then the management will have to look at new players to build a team for the future.
“Definitely, 200 percent yes. They need to score big. If they don’t perform, it’s time for them to call a time on their Test careers,” Ghavri told the Times of India. “If they don’t perform in Australia, Virat and Rohit should retire. They have done a lot for Indian cricket, but the team needs runs to win. We need to build a team for the future. How long will we keep players who aren’t performing?”
‘Why select out-of-form players?’
Ghavri added that players who do not perform should not be a part of Team India.
“If they perform, keep them; if not, why select them? If players are selected without performance, then bring in Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane. If Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli aren’t scoring runs, then who will score? In a country like Australia, you need experienced players who can occupy the crease, stay longer, and put up big scores. To beat Australia in Australia, you need big totals on the board.”
Impact Shorts
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Team India’s five-match Test series against Australia will start on 22 November in Perth with the first Test. India need at least a 4-0 win to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final without relying on other results.