Veteran cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Should Take a Backseat to Facilitate India's Test Team Transition
At least they gave it a shot, but with India facing a daunting survival struggle in a nail-biting fourth Test finale against Australia's unyielding assault on a tricky Melbourne pitch, their seasoned titans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could not bring back their former glory when it truly mattered.
They both faltered once more, and it was left to India's younger batters to strive to counteract Australia, with 23-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal showing resilience with a game-changing 84 off 208 deliveries, yet it was insufficient.
India relied on their veteran heroes to make a mark on the fifth day, with the series tied at 1-1 and their World Tour Championship finale aspirations largely hinging on their successful performance.
A crowd of 74,000 spectators thronged the legendary MCG, making this Test match a rare spectacle that had seized the nation's imagination like never before, as it crushed attendance and broadcasting records. The stage was set for 37-year-old Rohit, who had reclaimed his preferred opening spot after being sidelined due to the birth of his second child in Perth, to shine.
Rohit, as India's captain, started cautiously against the swinging new ball, appearing focused and prepared for a considerable knock following his evident rustiness upon his return to the team. But Rohit's aggressive stroke resulted in an error, and he was quickly heading off the expansive MCG terrain. His form has waned, and he has become more of a liability, denying opportunities to emerging talents such as Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel, who had previously featured in the series. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had notched up a magnificent maiden Test century with a powerful innings in the first innings at No.8, should have taken his place in the top order.
Other promising players are being deprived of their chances due to Rohit's status. India clinched victory in the series-opener with Padikkal and Jurel contributing significantly to the team, while they didn't deliver their best, they injected the team with youthful vigor.
Rohit's slump seems to be affecting his usually composed demeanor. Jaiswal let go of a few crucial catches on day four, with a visibly angered Rohit expressing his frustration with elaborate gestures as his feelings spilled over.
The pressure of leading India in all three formats is unlike anything in sports, given cricket holds a sacred place in the hearts of over a billion people in India.
Rohit has been an outstanding leader, guiding India to a much-awaited T20 World Cup title this year, but the warning signs are clear.
The media scrutiny on Rohit has intensified, with a prominent Australian tabloid criticizing him extensively as part of an apparent attempt to reinvent its image.
Speculation is swirling in India about Rohit retiring, and the SCG Test could represent a fitting finale. Kohli is likely to continue his career, but his form has been a source of concern for quite some time now. He demonstrated his old magic with a century in Perth, but that performance seems to have been an anomaly.
Kohli, who has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill throughout his illustrious career, has developed a glaring weakness outside off-stump, and Australia's relentless seamers are exploiting this vulnerability. He keeps getting caught behind due to the same repetitive dismissal every time. Kohli seems clueless as to how to counter this, and despite the risks, it would be hasty to count cricket's biggest star out.
For all his accomplishments and immense wealth, Kohli is genuinely a team player. He plays with unwavering passion to remain the team's driving force and sets the tone in the field with his enthusiasm. Kohli is willing to take risks to ignite his team's spirit, as he notoriously did in the early hours of the match.
Perhaps Kohli will contemplate relinquishing his position to give a younger teammate an opportunity to lead the team. It will be his call. The selectors are not likely to show the bravery required to intervene. But Kohli appeared unusually defeated as he made his way off the hallowed MCG turf just before lunch on day five.
Maybe he knows.
India's business strategy for their World Tour Championship finale heavily relies on the performances of their veteran players, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to secure a strong position.
Despite the financial success of cricket in India, the pressure on players like Rohit Sharma, who holds a significant influence in the sport, can be enormous and potentially impact their performance in high-stake matches.
