The former Indian captain Kapil Dev has issued a strong call for senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to ramp up their practice ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar test series against Australia. His remarks come in the wake of India’s disappointing 0-3 series loss to New Zealand, a performance that raised serious questions about the form and preparation of two of India’s most experienced players.
Virat Kohli’s run tally against New Zealand was particularly concerning, scoring just 93 runs at an average of 15.50 – his worst home series in seven years. Rohit Sharma also struggled, with a meager 37 runs against New Zealand following a similarly poor show of 42 runs in two tests against Bangladesh. These performances have reignited criticism over their decision to skip the Duleep Trophy, potentially missing an opportunity for much-needed match practice ahead of a challenging test calendar.
The first World Cup winning captain of India, Kapil Dev emphasised on the importance of practice for the players going through a rough patch, stating in an interaction with a cricket portal as he asked Rohit and Virat to go back to basics and practice more and more. He added that if they feel that they will improve by sitting in the room then it is definitely not going to happen. The legend further said that if a player is going through a rough patch, he needs to practice more, the more he practices the better he gets.
His advice extended beyond just Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, urging underperforming players like KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan to redouble their efforts and return to fundamentals. The upcoming five-match test series against Australia is seen as a pivotal moment for both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Rohit Sharma, who has had mixed performances on previous tours Down Under, has amassed 408 runs from seven matches across three visits, fluctuating between roles in the middle-order and as an opener. Virat Kohli, meanwhile, boasts a strong record in Australia, with 1352 runs from 13 matches at an average of 54.08, highlighted by a prolific 2014/15 series when he scored 692 runs, including four centuries.
As the cricketing world turns its focus to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the spotlight will be firmly on India’s senior batters to regain form, lead from the front, and counter the formidable Australian challenge. Their preparation and performance could prove crucial in helping India bounce back from their recent setbacks and reclaim dominance on the international stage.
