Are Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli in The Same Situation as Babar Azam?

Team India’s poor show in the recently concluded test series against New Zealand has come to an end with a whitewash for the first time at home. New Zealand becomes the first team to beat India in India 3-0 in a 3-match test series. The regular batting failures of two Indian stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the series have now been more visible after a clean sweep in the series. Before that, when India was winning regularly in home tests, the inconsistency and the batting failures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would get hidden.

Now, former Pakistani cricketer turned into a Youtuber Basit Ali said the situation of both the Indian players is now the same as Babar Azam at the moment. He also acknowledges the need to play domestic cricket for both the players. Basit Ali also analyzed Rohit’s batting and stressed the point of making the players available themselves for domestic cricket.

“Virat and Kohli are in the same situation as Babar Azam” – Basit Ali

A former Pakistani cricketer, Basit Ali, who is now a cricket expert and runs his YouTube channel has talked about the situation of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the moment. Right now, both the batters are facing a lean patch as far as their batting is concerned.

On his YouTube channel, Basit Ali said Rohit and Kohli find themselves in a similar situation as Babar. He said this because of the two Indian players’ form.

Ali said – “After Babar, Virat, and Rohit find themselves in a similar situation. Both are out of form.” (Babar ke baad, Rohit aur Virat ki bhi same situation ho gayi hai, form kharab).

Ali analyzed Rohit’s batting in the last inning

In the 2^nd inning of the 3^rd test in Mumbai, Rohit Sharma looks a bit uncomfortable while facing Matt Henry. He eventually got out to a pacer where the pitch has so much assistance for the spinners.

“Rohit stepped out to hit a four after missing two deliveries and getting smacked on the pads and then the lower abdomen. This demonstrates his poor form and immobile feet. Then, off a reverse sweep, he hit a four.” – Ali while analyzing Rohit’s batting (quoted by us).

Ali stressed the need to play domestic cricket

The former Pakistani cricketer also talked about the need to play domestic cricket. He said both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should play domestic cricket before going to Australia for a test series.

“It was the mandate that you must make yourself available for domestic cricket to be eligible for India selection. 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.

Why does Basit Ali think that Virat and Rohit are in the same situation as Babar Azam?

Babar Azam, one of the most important batters for the Pakistan team over the years is also going through a lean patch. He hasn’t scored runs in test matches for more than two years. Even in the home test matches, where the pitches are mostly flat and good for batting, his batting hasn’t come good.

The situation kept getting worse for Pakistan as they hadn’t won a home test match in the last 3 and a half years. Eventually, the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) decided to take an important call and change their selection panel. The selectors have dropped three of their main players; Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the test squad.

This decision was a reaction to what has happened in Pakistan cricket but it paid off well for them. Pakistan won the last two tests against England with a new team, on a turning wickets.

As far as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both players are also not scoring runs for Team India. That’s why Basit Ali compared these two players’ situations with Babar Azam.

Are Virat and Rohit really in the same situation as Babar Azam?

Not fully, but partially. Look, Pakistan’s cricketing system is so different as compared to India. Pakistan’s system has more flaws, as we can see in their selection panel. They have changed three selection panels in the last three months, their board didn’t have consistency and the team selection is also not stable.

The BCCI won’t drop Virat and Rohit from the test team, just like the PCB did with Babar. But, there has to be some action if Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma continue to fail like this. They are not getting younger anymore. A lot will depend on how India does in the next test assignment and how these two perform with the bat.

Conclusion

So this is what Basit Ali has to say on this. Virat’s poor run against the spinners is not hidden from anyone. Rohit’s way of playing – ‘the intent’ will also be in question. If it comes out well, that’s good. But when it didn’t work, the fans and the experts will question his approach. Also, he is not looking good and seems to have only one way to tackle things, which is to go hard at the bowlers.

Let’s see how India does in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. A tough tour is ahead of India and so many things are at stake. The tour will begin at Perth with the first test on November 22.

FAQs:-

(1) Will India play a practice match in Australia before BGT 2024-25?

There was one intra-squad game scheduled to be played before the series, but it has been canceled now. India A will play a 2-day warm-up match against Prime Minister XI in Canberra after the first test.

(2) What are India vs Australia’s fixtures in BGT 2024-25?

The series will begin on November 22 in Perth. Adelaide will host the second test (Pink Ball) starting on December 06. Then, Brisbane will host the third test starting on December 14, before Melbourne hosts a Boxing Day test on December 26. The last test will be played in Sydney starting on January 03.

(3) Has Australia announced their squad for BGT 2024-25?

As we write this article, Australia hasn’t announced their squad yet.