Cricket

Indian cricket team's star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have faced intense criticism following their team's dismal performance in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. Both players failed to deliver with the bat, contributing to India's 0-3 series defeat.Rohit Sharma, who captained the side, managed only 91 runs in the series, averaging a meager 15.16. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, scored 93 runs at an average of 15.50. Their poor form has raised concerns among fans and experts alike.Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has been particularly critical of the duo, comparing their struggles to those of Pakistan's Babar Azam. "After Babar, Rohit and Virat are also in the same situation, poor form," Ali said on his YouTube channel.Ali pointed out specific instances where Rohit's footwork was lacking, such as when he missed two deliveries and then stepped out to hit a four. "This shows that his feet are not moving, form is not good," Ali said.Ali also emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for players like Kohli and Rohit, who have been exempted from playing in the Ranji Trophy. "Virat Kohli, out of touch, not in form at all. He needs to play domestically before flying to Australia, Rohit also. Test match practice cannot be seen," Ali said.He added that the mandate of making players available for domestic cricket to be eligible for India selection should be strictly enforced. "Everyone played, all of them performed in patches - Shubman Gill, Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal...but these two (Rohit and Virat) were given a free hand and allowed to exclude themselves," Ali said.The criticism of Kohli and Rohit comes at a crucial time, as India is set to tour Australia for a four-Test series later this year. The duo's poor form has raised doubts about their ability to perform in challenging conditions.

Rohit Sharma's Test Future in Doubt, India Needs to Prepare for ReplacementFormer Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has raised concerns about Rohit Sharma's future in Test cricket, suggesting that the veteran opener may retire from the format if India performs poorly in the upcoming five-Test series in Australia.Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals, has been in poor form in Tests, averaging just 26.67 in his last 10 innings. He has also acknowledged his lack of leadership during India's recent 0-3 home Test thumping by New Zealand."You have to start thinking ahead. If Rohit Sharma doesn't do well, I think he himself will retire from test cricket, for all you know," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. "He'll play ODIs only. He has already left T20I cricket. We have to keep in mind that he's also ageing."Sharma, 37, has amassed 4,270 runs in 87 Tests at an average of 42.27, but his recent performances have raised questions about his ability to continue at the highest level.Srikkanth praised Sharma for acknowledging his mistakes in a press conference after the New Zealand series. "Hats off to Rohit for accepting the fact that he played badly throughout the series and captained badly. That's a great thing," Srikkanth added. "That's the first move of a player to get back to rhythm. Accepting your fault is very important. That's a very important quality of a human being."India may be without Sharma for the first Test in Perth beginning on November 22 due to personal reasons. The team needs to win four of their five Tests in Australia to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the third time in a row next year.Srikkanth believes that India needs to start preparing for Sharma's potential retirement by identifying a suitable replacement. "We have to start thinking about who will replace Rohit Sharma," he said. "We have to start looking at the younger players and give them a chance."

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India's most celebrated cricketers, are approaching the twilight of their careers. As they enter their mid-30s, questions are being raised about their continued presence in the national team.Following India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand, former captain Sunil Gavaskar has called for introspection regarding the team management's approach to the senior duo. Gavaskar believes that if Kohli and Sharma fail to perform in the upcoming series against Australia, the pressure for a team overhaul will intensify."It's ticking for everybody," Gavaskar said. "But because they are in their 30s, mid-30s, it will be tougher for them than the guys in the early 20s or early 30s."Gavaskar acknowledged that Kohli and Sharma have been through a rare period of poor form, but emphasized that their performance in Australia will be crucial. "What we are going to see in Australia is really going to be interesting," he said. "What we are going to see in Australia will determine the future of the Test team."Gavaskar also believes that the early announcement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad was not a mistake. He argued that the selection committee had already considered potential replacements and included them in the team."I don't think that there would have been too many changes," Gavaskar said. "I don't think, you know, announcing the team earlier was was an issue at all."The upcoming series against Australia will be a defining moment for Kohli and Sharma. If they fail to perform, the calls for a new-look Indian team will only grow louder. The future of the Test team hangs in the balance, and the performances of its two most experienced players will play a pivotal role in shaping its destiny.

India's Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has endured a dismal series against New Zealand, with his poor form contributing significantly to the team's 3-0 defeat. Rohit's aggressive approach on challenging pitches has backfired, leading to six dismissals that have been criticized as "casual."However, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has defended Rohit's approach, attributing it to his elegant style of play. Gavaskar drew parallels to David Gower, another batsman who faced similar misinterpretations. "People tend to misinterpret his approach because his style is easy on the eye," Gavaskar said. "They care about their wickets and want to score runs, but their batting looks simple, and their dismissals reflect that."Rohit acknowledged his poor shot selection in the series but expressed no regrets over his aggressive approach. "I played a bad shot, but I don't regret it because it has given me success in the past," he said. "I will continue to do that."Rohit's struggles have raised questions about his suitability as Test captain. Some critics argue that his attacking style is not suited to the longer format of the game. However, Gavaskar believes that Rohit's leadership qualities should not be judged solely on his batting performance."He is a very good captain," Gavaskar said. "He has the ability to motivate his team and get the best out of them. He is also a very good tactician. I think he will be a successful Test captain."Despite Rohit's struggles, India's batting lineup has shown promise in the series. Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara have both scored centuries, while Rishabh Pant has played some impressive innings. The team's bowling attack has also performed well, with Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin taking wickets consistently.India will be hoping to bounce back from their Test series defeat when they face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on January 18. Rohit will be keen to prove his worth as a Test captain and lead his team to victory.

India's recent loss to New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) has raised concerns about the team's batting performance. Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria believes that India captain Rohit Sharma should consider changing his batting position to address the team's struggles.Kaneria, in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com, expressed his concern over the form of India's top order, particularly Rohit and Virat Kohli. He suggested that Rohit should move down to the middle order, possibly at number three, to improve his performance."Rohit has been struggling with the track in India. In the recent series, Southee got him out twice, and the ball will move more over there in Australia, so you have to see how you go with that," said Kaneria.Kaneria believes that the Indian top order should consist of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill as openers, followed by Rohit at number three and Kohli at number four. He emphasized that the success of the team depends on the performance of the top order."Indian batters need to click; that's the only concern. If the bowlers take wickets, then the batters need to click. A Test is won by bowlers, so Indian batting needs to click as their top order, where Rohit and Kohli are struggling with runs," explained Kaneria.Kaneria also pointed out that the rise of T20 cricket has negatively impacted Indian batters' ability to face spin bowling. He believes that the team needs to address this issue to improve their performance in Test cricket.India's loss to New Zealand has dropped them to second place in the WTC standings. To secure a spot in the next WTC final, India will need to win at least four matches in their upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.

Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator, has once again emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for India's top batsmen, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. In the wake of India's 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series, Manjrekar has reiterated his belief that Kohli and Sharma would have benefited from playing in the Indian domestic competitions.During the series, both Kohli and Sharma struggled against the New Zealand seamers and spinners. The seam-friendly surface in Bengaluru gave way to rank turners in Pune and Mumbai, exposing the Indian batsmen's vulnerabilities. Rohit, who has played 64 Tests in his career, scored just 91 runs across the three Tests, with a highest of 52 runs in Bengaluru. Kohli, with 118 Tests under his belt, fared no better, scoring just 93 runs across the six innings.Manjrekar believes that the selectors should not rest well-rested players like Kohli and Sharma simply because of their stature. He argues that both players would have only benefited from playing in the Duleep Trophy at the start of the season. Across the home season, which included two Tests against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand, Rohit scored 133 runs and Kohli mustered 192 runs.Manjrekar has consistently urged the selectors and the two stalwarts of Indian cricket to play in the Duleep Trophy competition to prepare for the home season and the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In August, he wrote on X, "India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61 % & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep trophy."During the Bangladesh series, Manjrekar had commented, "... considering the amount of international matches Rohit and Virat played in the last five years, they could have been picked for the Duleep Trophy and I’m sure the time out there would have just held them at least in the first innings where they suddenly came out cold and having had to bat first," he had said on ESPNCricinfo.Kohli and Rohit will be under immense pressure going into the five-match Test series against Australia, which begins in Perth on November 22. Manjrekar's comments serve as a timely reminder of the importance of domestic cricket in preparing for international challenges.

The Indian cricket team's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) have taken a significant blow following their 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The defeat has raised concerns about the team's preparation and confidence ahead of their defense of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia.Adding to the team's woes is the possibility of captain Rohit Sharma missing the opening Test of the BGT due to personal reasons. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes it is crucial to have clarity about the leadership well before the start of such an important tour."Captain should play the opening Test. It would have been different had he been injured. But if a captain is not available right in the first Test match of the series, then it would put a lot of pressure on the deputy leader and that is not easy," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar suggested that the BCCI should appoint Rohit's deputy, Jasprit Bumrah, as the captain for the entire series if Rohit's availability remains uncertain. He emphasized the need for clear communication from the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, to Rohit."We see reports saying Rohit won't play the opening Test, and we don't know yet about his availability for the second Test. If that is true, then Agarkar should right now tell him, 'Whatever you wish to do, you can, whether you want to take rest, you can, that is a personal reason; but for this tour you can only participate as a player. You can join the Indian squad whenever you want, but for this tour, we are naming the vice-captain as the leader'," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar stressed the importance of having a clear captaincy situation, especially after the disappointing loss to New Zealand. "There should be clarity because we lost 0-3 against New Zealand, so the captain has to be there. Indian cricket is the most important thing. Had India won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have been a different case."The Indian team will be hoping to bounce back from their recent setbacks and put up a strong performance in the BGT. However, the absence of Rohit Sharma and the uncertainty surrounding the captaincy could pose significant challenges for the team.

Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team's captain, has been under immense scrutiny following India's humiliating 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand. The defeat has raised questions about Rohit's leadership and his ability to inspire his team to perform at the highest level.Rohit's struggles with the bat have been particularly concerning. In six innings during the series, he managed only 91 runs, averaging a meager 13.30. This is a far cry from the prolific run-scorer he has been in recent years. Rohit's poor form has put pressure on the rest of the batting lineup, which has also failed to deliver consistently.Compounding Rohit's batting woes, his decision-making as captain has also been criticized. In the first Test in Kanpur, he opted to bat first on a pitch that was clearly more suited to bowling. This decision backfired spectacularly, as India was bowled out for just 124 runs in their first innings.Rohit's decision to field first in the second Test in Mumbai was also questionable. The pitch was expected to deteriorate over the course of the match, and batting first would have given India the advantage of setting a large total. However, New Zealand batted first and scored 325 runs, putting India under pressure from the outset.Rohit's captaincy has also been criticized for its lack of aggression. In the past, India has been known for its attacking style of play, but under Rohit's leadership, the team has appeared more cautious and conservative. This has led to accusations that Rohit is too risk-averse and that he is not inspiring his players to play to their full potential.Rohit's struggles have come at a time when India is facing a crucial period in its Test cricket history. The team is currently ranked fourth in the World Test Championship standings, and it needs to win the remaining four Tests in the series against Australia to qualify for the final.Rohit's form and leadership will be under intense scrutiny in the upcoming Tests. If he can rediscover his batting touch and inspire his team to victory, he will silence his critics and prove that he is still the right man to lead India. However, if he continues to struggle, India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final will be in jeopardy.

Team India's dismal performance in the Test series against New Zealand has sparked a debate about Rohit Sharma's future as captain. With the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy looming, former India batter Mohammad Kaif has thrown his support behind Rishabh Pant as the ideal successor to Rohit in the longest format.Kaif believes Pant possesses the qualities necessary to lead the team, citing his match-winning performances and ability to perform in all conditions. He highlighted Pant's impact in the third Test against New Zealand, where he kept the Kiwis on edge throughout his innings."From the current team, only Rishabh Pant is in contention to be Test captain. He's worthy of it, whenever he's played, he's put the Indian team in front," Kaif said. "He's scored in all types of conditions, be it England, Australia, or South Africa. Be it seaming to turning tracks, he's a complete batter."Kaif also praised Pant's remarkable improvement in recent years, particularly in his wicket-keeping skills. He believes that Pant has the potential to become a legend of the game."When Rishabh Pant will be playing his last Test match, he will retire as a legend. He's shown that already, his keeping has improved drastically," Kaif added. "Hence, I believe from the current lot, if you're looking for a future captain, Rishabh Pant deserves to be Rohit Sharma's successor, especially in Test cricket."While Pant has the credentials to lead the team, Jasprit Bumrah remains the frontrunner for the Test captaincy, according to the BCCI selection committee. However, Kaif's endorsement of Pant adds another dimension to the discussion and highlights the growing belief in the wicket-keeper batter's leadership abilities.