Global superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been under fire following their rough patch with the bat. Both players are in the middle of a nightmarish run in the international arena, registering a string of low scores across the formats.
Kohli and Rohit’s rough patch continued on Sunday as they both fell for just 11 runs in the third and final T20I against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Kohli, who scored only a solitary run in the second T20I, was dismissed when he tried to hit the wide delivery but ended up giving a catch to Jason Roy at the short extra cover. Similarly, Rohit, who had scores of 24 and 31 in the first two games, was removed after he mistimed a shot off Reece Topley and gave a catch to Philip Salt.
With an increasing run of poor form, the pressure is undoubtedly growing on the senior Indian batters to justify their selection. Notably, as per reports, Rohit will be available for the upcoming five-match T20I series against West Indies, but Kohli has asked for a break and will miss the entire tour.
Reacting to the ongoing developments, former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad expressed his unhappiness over BCCI’s approach of giving rest to senior players, especially when they are out of form.
Prasad cited instances of Indian legends like Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag and others who have been dropped from the Indian side during their bad form. Prasad reckoned that irrespective of reputation, all those legends have been dropped, but a similar approach is not adopted by the current Indian team.
“There was a time when you were out of form, you would be dropped irrespective of reputation. Sourav, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Bhajji all have been dropped when not in form. They have went back to domestic cricket, scored runs and staged a comeback,” Prasad wrote on Twitter.
“The yardsticks seem to have changed drastically now, where there is rest for being out of form. This is no way for progress. There is so much talent in the country and cannot play on reputation. One of India’s greatest match-winner, Anil Kumble sat out on so many occasions, need actions for the larger good,” he added.
Changed drastically now, where there is rest for being out of form. This is no way for progress. There is so much talent in the country and cannot play on reputation. One of India’s greatest match-winner, Anil Kumble sat out on so many ocassions, need action’s for the larger good
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 10, 2022
