BGT 2024/25: Should India Move On From Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli In Tests After Australia Tour?

Team India suffered a 10-wicket Defeat at the hands of Australia in the Pink Ball Test at the Adelaide Oval. After being bundled out for 175 in the second innings, India set a mere? 19-run target for Australia to chase.

The hosts' opening pair of Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney didn't take much time to wrap up the match, helping Australia chase down the target in just 3.2 overs. Nitish Kumar's 41 helped the visitors take a lead rather than facing innings defeat.?

The defeat gave a big jolt to India's chances of qualifying for the WTC Final as they have to win the next three matches of the Border Gavaskar series to keep their hopes alive. Also, India slipped to the third spot in the WTC points table, which makes their path to the final even more difficult.?

Amid India's defeat in the Adelaide Pink Ball Test and their chances of making it to the WTC Final, questions are raised about skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's form. The two batting mainstays were below par in the Day/Night Test in Adelaide. Rohit scored 3 and 6, while Kohli scored 7 and 11 in both the innings of the match.

Their lacklustre performances have reignited the debate about whether team management should continue to back Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli or move on from them to accommodate young talented players. If someone senior like Cheteshwar Pujara could be dropped from the team due to inconsistency, what makes selectors hold back from taking a similar stance on Rohit and Kohli??

Skipper Rohit Sharma played the first match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide after missing the Perth opener due to the birth of his second child, son Ahaan. Many believed that the break might help the 37-year-old perform well in the Pink Ball Test. However, that wasn’t the case as he failed to deliver his best. Also, Rohit Sharma slotted himself into the middle order to allow KL Rahul to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. The Indian captain’s decision to sacrifice his opener position was lauded but it backfired as he struggled to the role despite having a decent record of playing in the middle-order.?

Additionally, Rohit Sharma’s batting form has been off-colour ever since he took up the captaincy duties from Virat Kohli in 2022. As a Test captain, Rohit has aggregated 1232 runs, including 4 centuries, at an average of 32.42 in 22 matches. In India’s 0-3 drubbing at the hands of New Zealand, the right-handed batter managed to score only 91 runs at an average of 15.17 in six innings. This year, Rohit Sharma has had a decent outing rather than a standout one, scoring 597 runs, including 2 centuries, at an average of 27.13 in 12 matches.?

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, entered the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide on the back of a century in the second innings of the opening match in Perth. Many were expecting Kohli to continue with his revived form in the Adelaide Test. However, the former India captain failed to live up to the billing as he scored just 18 runs across two innings in the Day and Night Test. Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, who is part of the commentary team for the ongoing BGT series, pointed out that Kohli’s inability to play off-stump delivery could be a key factor in his batting average plunging below 50.?

Virat Kohli landed in Australia after a disappointing performance in India’s three-match series whitewash against New Zealand, where he scored 93 at an average of 15.50 in six innings. Since the star batter is often known for performing well in Australian conditions, the expectations were high for him to have a significant impact in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Since 2020, Kohli has aggregated 1961 runs, including 3 centuries, at an average of 32.14 in 36 matches. This statistic looks unimpressive for a batter of his calibre.

This year, Kohli has had an average season in Tests, scoring 373 runs, including a century, at an average of 26.64 in 8 matches. The number would have been higher had he missed out on the entirety of the home Test series against England earlier this year as he was in London for the birth of his second child.?

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s poor form have sparked debate over their future in Test cricket. Though team management and the BCCI selectors might be a little anxious regarding the two batting stalwarts’ form, they would not be quick to make drastic decisions, considering their experience as well as their ability to deliver under pressure. Moving on from Rohit and Virat would be a bold decision, but it could potentially open doors for younger players to play for India in white-jersey. The Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran is already in the squad but has yet to make a Test debut as India promoted KL Rahul as an opener.?

The next three Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney are crucial for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as they could determine their fate in the India Test team. A solid performance in these matches would strengthen their positions in the squad, while failure to deliver their best might spark discussions about their place in the team.