Rohit Sharma Breaks Silence on Virat Kohli’s Struggles with Outside Off-Stump Deliveries: India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has finally addressed the ongoing concerns surrounding Virat Kohli’s struggles against deliveries outside the off stump. In his usual candid style, Rohit broke into laughter when asked about his teammate’s form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, particularly after Kohli’s lackluster performance in the first three Tests. Virat Kohli’s Heated Exchange with Australian Media at Melbourne Airport
Despite scoring a century in the second innings of the first Test in Perth, Kohli has not looked his best throughout the series. The Indian cricketing community, especially fans, has been concerned not just with his low scores, but also with his repeated dismissals, particularly to balls pitched outside the off stump. The Australian bowlers—Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins—have continuously exploited this weakness with a combination of good length and fuller length deliveries. Rahul Vaidya reacts to being blocked by Virat Kohli on Instagram
However, Rohit, like legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, is confident that Kohli will adapt and find a way to score runs in the final two Tests in Australia. Rohit, referring to Kohli as a modern-day great, said, “You only said he is a modern-day great. Modern-day greats will figure out their way or the path (to overcome issues).” ‘Virat Kohli asked, can I get my girlfriend? Board isn’t allowing…’: Shastri’s unheard BCCI call over Anushka Sharma
The Boxing Day Test: A Crucial Test for India’s Batting Lineup
With the Boxing Day Test just a couple of days away, India is in a crucial phase of the series, which is currently tied 1-1 after the first three Tests. The pressure is mounting on India’s batters to step up and deliver in the remaining Tests.
Kohli’s struggles are not the only concern for India. Rohit Sharma himself has had a difficult year in Test cricket, struggling with the in-swingers that have caused him considerable trouble. Moreover, his decision not to open the batting in the last two Tests has raised questions about his form. Are Virat, Dhoni, Tendulkar more popular than SRK, Big B, Salman? This country-wide report surely suggests so
When asked about the batting order, Rohit was tight-lipped, emphasizing that the team management would figure out the best strategy internally. “Let’s not worry about that (the batting order). I think ‘who bats where?’ is something that we need to figure out within ourselves. It’s not something I should be discussing at every press conference,” he said. “Whatever it takes for our team to look good or gives the best chance to succeed, we will do that.”
Youngsters in the Mix: Jaiswal and Gill’s Role
The India captain also addressed questions about young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Rohit stated that the team management doesn’t want to overburden the youngsters with too much pressure. He highlighted the importance of maintaining match awareness and not complicating the expectations placed on them. “All these youngsters – Rishabh, Gill, Jaiswal, all these youngsters are in the same boat. We don’t want to complicate what they are doing. They know what they are expected to do.”
In the midst of the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit Sharma’s belief in his team’s ability to adapt and succeed continues to be a source of reassurance. The final two Tests will test the resilience and adaptability of India’s top-order, with all eyes on Virat Kohli as he looks to overcome his challenges in Australia.