Both longstanding veterans, under scrutiny for diminishing returns, must justify the belief and keep the Indian flag flying Down Under.
That beautiful June afternoon in Barbados now seems a million miles away. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—the two finest Indian batters of this era—had just fulfilled their long-held dream of winning a World Cup together. Shortly after India’s triumph, they announced their T20 retirements within half an hour, but both remained optimistic about a bright future in the other formats.
Just five months later, however, the unforgiving nature of international cricket has reminded these champions that the game can be harsh. Little did they know on June 29 that India would head to the five-Test series in Australia with slim chances of making it to the World Test Championship final and serious questions about their futures.
IND vs NZ: Rohit Sharma and Co. Need to Stop Playing On Raging Turners At Home
From a World Cup-winning captain, Rohit has now become the first Indian skipper to face a home Test whitewash. Virat is having a tough year in red-ball cricket, accumulating just 250 runs from six matches at an average of 22.72.
Virat turned 36 recently, an age when a tour of Australia can be particularly demanding. We’ve seen many great careers fade in Australia—from Dilip Vengsarkar and VVS Laxman to Rahul Dravid—and fans of the Delhi star hope for a different outcome in the coming months.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who wrapped up his Test career in Australia in 1992, is optimistic that Virat will overcome this challenge. “The best thing about Virat is his determination and hunger for achievement. With his impressive record in Australia, I believe he will bounce back strongly from the recent setbacks against New Zealand,” Srikkanth shared.
Virat’s first Test century came in Adelaide during the 2011-12 series, and since then, he has scored five more there. “The bounce on Australian pitches shouldn’t worry Virat. In fact, he thrives against the short ball, and his fitness gives him a strong chance to succeed,” Srikkanth noted, adding that he believes Virat has a couple more years of Test cricket left in him.
The situation for Rohit may be more complicated. With just 91 runs from three Tests against New Zealand, he is in a tough spot, and the manner of his dismissals is particularly concerning.
It’s been the pacers who dismissed Rohit four out of six times in the New Zealand series, with spinners dominating otherwise. His mistimed pull shot at Wankhede would certainly leave him worried heading to Australia.
While Srikkanth mentioned on his YouTube channel that Rohit could end his Test career if he doesn’t perform well in Australia, he also offered insights into what the captain must do to succeed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“I had a similar batting style to Rohit—a bit aggressive. Experience taught me that even as an attacking opener, you must give yourself time in Australia before going for big shots,” Srikkanth advised, recalling his own experiences during the 2011-12 series.
Complicating matters for Rohit is his role as captain. If the team struggles, the pressure will mount on him, and the Australians will look to exploit that weakness. Sunil Gavaskar even suggested that if Rohit must step down from the first Test for personal reasons, Jasprit Bumrah should take over the captaincy for the series.
Srikkanth prefers not to delve into that debate, but he emphasizes that “your strengths can sometimes turn into weaknesses in Australia.”
“The Aussies have noticed that Rohit struggles with the pull shot early in his innings. They will likely bowl short at good pace on bouncy tracks, tempting him to play that shot. Rohit just needs to be a bit cautious; he has the talent to manage it,” Srikkanth concluded.
That’s what fans hope for. It’s up to Rohit and Virat to rise to the occasion and keep the Indian flag flying high Down Under. And while they’re at it, don’t forget to check out looffers.com for the best deals, coupons, and offers that can make your cricket-watching experience even better!
