Former India coach Ravi Shastri has claimed that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should play domestic cricket after their recent failures during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli and Rohit endured a rough time down under as they underperformed, which ultimately contributed to India’s series loss to Australia.
Kohli was dismissed 8 times to deliveries outside the off-stump while Rohit could muster only 31 runs from 5 innings at an average of 6.2. The India captain ended up stepping down for the final Test in Sydney due to his poor form. There have been suggestions from fans and pundits that the duo should try their hand back in domestic cricket to improve their form in red-ball cricket. Shastri echoed the same sentiment and said both men should jump at the chance to play red-ball cricket.
Speaking on the ICC Review, the former India coach stated that it will help the duo be abreast to the current generation and help the youngsters with their experience and also get used to the turning tracks in India.
“If there’s a gap for them, I think they should go back and play some domestic cricket and see how it is,” Shastri said.
“Because when you play Test match cricket for that length of time, it’s important to play domestic cricket for two reasons: You’re abreast with the current generation (and) you can contribute to that younger generation with your experience.
“And more importantly you get to play spin more than you will ever play. So if you see India as recorded, India on turning tracks is not the greatest. If you have quality spinners in the opposition, they can trouble you. And they have troubled India.”
Hunger and desire will decide their future
While a lot of questions have been raised about the future of Rohit and Kohli in Tests, Shastri said it would depend on the hunger and desire of both men to continue in the longest format of the game.
“They might have been lucky to get over a couple of series, but you saw how New Zealand exposed them before coming to Australia. So I would leave it on that,” Shastri stated.
“And plus, it’s the hunger and desire. When you’re in your 30s, one is 36, the other is 38. They would know how hungry they are.”
India’s next assignment in Tests will be during the England tour.
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