Cricket

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.

Virat Kohli's recent decision to stay in New Zealand after India's Test series loss has sparked speculation about his future with the team. Despite India's humiliating 0-3 whitewash, Kohli appeared in good spirits as he celebrated his 36th birthday with wife Anushka Sharma.Kohli's form has been a major concern for fans and experts alike. Despite India's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, Kohli has struggled for runs in all formats. In the recent Test series against New Zealand, he failed to cross the 100-run mark cumulatively.Questions have been raised about Kohli's continuity in the team, particularly in the Test format. While he has already retired from T20 internationals, some wonder if his days in India's Test team could be numbered.Kohli has been selected for India's upcoming tour of Australia, where he will have a chance to prove his worth. However, his recent form has raised doubts about his ability to lead India's batting charge Down Under.Experts believe that Kohli has the potential to turn things around, but others worry that a Test retirement could be on the horizon if he fails to improve his performance.Kohli's future with the Indian team remains uncertain. His performance in Australia will be crucial in determining his fate. If he can regain his form and lead India to success, he will silence his critics. However, if he continues to struggle, his days in the Test team could be numbered.

The recent Test series between India and New Zealand has reignited the debate over the duration of the longest format of cricket. With matches increasingly ending within three days, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar believes it's time to officially reduce Tests to four days.Vengsarkar argues that the financial burden on weaker ICC members is a significant factor. He points out that teams like the West Indies struggle to afford travel and expenses for five-day Tests. Additionally, he believes it's unfair to sell tickets for five days when matches are often over in three.The advent of DRS has also contributed to the shorter duration of Tests. Marginal decisions now favor bowlers, making it more challenging for batters to survive. The post-T20 era has also seen a decline in batting technique and temperament, as head coach Gautam Gambhir has noted.Vengsarkar's proposal has been echoed by other former players, including Michael Vaughan and Shane Warne. The ICC considered the idea of four-day Tests in 2018, but the MCC, the custodians of cricket laws, ultimately decided to maintain the five-day format.However, the MCC did acknowledge some benefits of four-day Tests. In recent years, there have been a few sanctioned four-day Tests, including England vs. Ireland in 2023 and South Africa vs. Zimbabwe. In India, Ranji Trophy matches are played over four days.Another aspect of the Mumbai Test was the enthusiastic crowd attendance. Vengsarkar suggests that the BCCI should schedule Tests only in major cities and metros, while awarding white-ball matches to smaller centers. He believes that Test cricket should be concentrated in venues like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

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.

Kevin Pietersen Raises Concerns Over Declining Batting Techniques in Test CricketFormer England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has expressed his concerns about the deteriorating quality of batting techniques in Test cricket. Pietersen believes that the shift towards aggressive, boundary-centric play has led to a decline in traditional batting skills.In a recent tweet, Pietersen highlighted the lack of application and technique in Test cricket, attributing it to the emphasis on "smackers" and the disintegration of Test match batting skills. He emphasized the importance of spending hours practicing against spin bowling, as there is no quick remedy for improving batting skills.Pietersen's comments reflect the growing sentiment among cricket purists who worry that the focus on T20 and limited-overs formats is undermining the art of Test batting. His call for extensive practice against spin underlines the necessity for batters to invest significant time and effort to hone their skills in the longer format of the game.As cricket continues to evolve, Pietersen's remarks serve as a reminder of the enduring value of traditional techniques and the need for a balanced approach to batting across all formats.

India's recent Test series whitewash against New Zealand has raised concerns over the poor form of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit has managed only 133 runs in his last 10 Test innings, while Kohli has scored 192.Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha has emphasized the need for these experienced players to take responsibility. "They need to take full responsibility because they are senior players. They are in bad form at the moment, and because of that India's collapse looks worse," Ojha said.Ojha, who played alongside both Rohit and Kohli, believes their poor form is particularly concerning given the young age of the rest of India's top 6. Kohli and Rohit are the only two players over 30 in the lineup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (22), Shubman Gil (25), Rishabh Pant (27), and Sarfaraz Khan (27) completing the batting order.Ojha warned that Australia will not make it easy for Rohit and Kohli during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "The Australia series will be crucial for both of them. If they find form there, India will feel a little bit comfortable. Down Under, Australia will know that India are coming after losing a home series, and that too a whitewash. Australia will be ahead in mind games and make good use of it," he said.While India has won the last two Test series in Australia, their experienced batters have separate issues to deal with. Kohli did not play in three of the four Tests in 2020/21, while Rohit Sharma may miss the first Test at Perth due to an unconfirmed personal reason.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's premier spinner, has been a formidable force in home conditions throughout his Test career. However, during the recent India vs New Zealand series, Ashwin's form dipped significantly, contributing to India's unprecedented 3-0 series loss.In the six innings he played against New Zealand, Ashwin managed only nine wickets, averaging over 41. This was in stark contrast to his recent performances at home, where he had been instrumental in India's 18 consecutive home series wins.In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in 2023, Ashwin picked up 25 wickets in four matches, averaging an impressive 17.28. Against England in 2024, he bagged 26 wickets in five Tests, including two five-wicket hauls. And in the series against Bangladesh in September, he took 11 wickets in two Tests, averaging 19.27.Ashwin's struggles against New Zealand were particularly surprising given the conducive conditions for spin bowling. However, the BlackCaps' bowlers, including the less experienced ones, were able to exploit the conditions better than him.While Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar bagged 16 wickets each in the series, Ashwin turned out to be the least effective among India's spinners. This dip in form has raised concerns about Ashwin's ability to continue as India's lead spinner in home conditions.It remains to be seen whether Ashwin can regain his form and help India regain their home dominance. However, the New Zealand series has shown that even the most experienced bowlers can struggle when their form deserts them.

Rohit Sharma's recent batting performances have raised concerns among cricket experts, particularly after India's 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand. The Indian captain has managed only 133 runs in his last 10 Test innings, prompting scrutiny of his technique and approach.Former teammate Dinesh Karthik believes that Rohit needs to adjust his aggressive style to succeed in Test cricket. "In Test cricket, intent is getting him into a safe space where he feels he can use that when in trouble," Karthik said. "It's not a method where he's using it like he's using it in white ball cricket."Karthik suggests that Rohit should trust his technique and adopt a more balanced approach. "The one thing that Rohit Sharma is not doing, which he did very well when he took up his role as an opener, is trusting his technique," Karthik added. "He went to England, he left a lot of balls. He decided that he can play shots. But what he'd do is, anything outside the off-stump, he would let it go. 'I am going to have the mental strength to bat long.'"Rohit's Test average in 2024 stands at a modest 33, indicating a need for improvement. The Indian team will be hoping that he can rediscover his form and lead them to success in upcoming Test matches.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), a fierce rivalry in Test cricket, returns on November 22 in Perth, Australia. This five-Test series marks the first time the BGT will be played over such a long format, with a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) at stake.India, the current holders of the BGT, face an uphill battle after a disappointing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand. Their chances of qualifying for the WTC final now hinge on a successful defense of the BGT.India's batting lineup has been a major concern, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs. Sharma scored only 91 runs in six innings against New Zealand, while Kohli managed just 93. Their poor form has sparked debate about their future in Test cricket, especially if India fails to qualify for the WTC final.Despite their recent struggles, India has a strong history in the BGT, having won their last two Test tours of Australia. However, the team coached by Gautam Gambhir has not had the ideal preparation this time, with repeated batting failures at home.Interestingly, six Indian legends have played their last Test matches in the BGT: Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and MS Dhoni. With several senior players in the current squad, including Ravichandran Ashwin (38), Rohit Sharma (37), Virat Kohli (35), and Ravindra Jadeja (35), it remains to be seen if any of them will join this illustrious list after this BGT.