After losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series after ten years and a run of poor scores, Virat Kohli and India skipper Rohit Sharma have drawn harsh criticism.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has encouraged India batter Virat Kohli to stop making “senseless” on-field gestures and instead concentrate on improving his form, as his Test berth is being heavily criticized for what may be the first time in his career.
Even though the 36-year-old Kohli opened the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a century in Perth last November, his series took a turn for the worse when he was caught in the off-side trap, which the Australian pacers skillfully created. Kohli finished the series with a pitiful 190 runs at an average of 23.75 after been caught behind by the wicketkeeper or in the slip cordon in eight of his nine innings while on tour.
After a ten-year BGT series loss and a run of poor scores, Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma have drawn harsh criticism. Australia secured the place, while India’s hopes of reaching a third World Test Championship final were also dashed with the loss in the fifth Test in Sydney. Chappell has stressed that Kohli returns to the fundamentals of scoring runs in order to earn his spot, as India is looking to make a transition beginning the next WTC cycle, which starts with a five-match series in England in July.
“Kohli’s experience in the UK would be invaluable, and of the two problematic players he’s the most likely to be resuscitated. However, his consistency needs to improve in addition to dispensing valuable advice to younger players. He also has to stop his senseless antics like shouldering Sam Konstas in the MCG Test. If Kohli does decide to retire from Test cricket, the loss of both him and Rohit would leave a huge gap in the line-up for a tough tour,” Chappell wrote on his column in ESPNcricinfo.
“The uncertain future of Rohit”
Following his terrible Australia campaign, which ended with the Mumbaikar himself choosing not to play in the Sydney Test, Chappell was also unsure of skipper Rohit’s Test future. Leading batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the two major questions for India, and the selectors must make difficult choices about them. With a packed five-Test series against England in a few months, the soon-to-be 38-year-old Rohit is a questionable player. Even though India is very hesitant to let go of its best players, Rohit has recently had technical difficulties, and his absence would raise questions about the opening slot and captaincy,” Chappell added.
