Sunil Gavaskar has provided a detailed analysis of the struggles faced by two of India's senior cricketers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, during the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. With India trailing 1-2 in the series, both Kohli and Rohit have come under intense scrutiny for their underwhelming performances, especially after high expectations were placed on them heading into the series.
Virat Kohli, despite his fighting century in Perth, has failed to make a significant impact in the subsequent matches. In his last five innings, Kohli has managed just 62 runs, which is far below his usual standards. Sunil Gavaskar, in his analysis of Kohli's batting woes, identified a technical flaw that is affecting his performance. According to Gavaskar, the issue lies in Kohli's foot movement. He explained that Kohli's foot is not moving in the direction of the ball, instead of going straight down the pitch. This lack of proper foot movement, Gavaskar believes, is causing Kohli to reach for the ball rather than meeting it with the middle of the bat. The legendary cricketer pointed out that if Kohli's foot were to move more towards the ball, he would have a better chance of making clean contact and finding consistency.
In addition to Kohli's struggles, the form of Indian captain Rohit Sharma has also been a major concern. Rohit has had a particularly difficult series, with just 31 runs in five innings at an average of a mere 6.20. Gavaskar remarked that Rohit’s poor performances have compounded the pressure on the Indian team, especially considering his importance as a senior player and a key figure in India's batting lineup.
Despite the struggles of both Kohli and Rohit, Gavaskar refrained from suggesting that the selectors should immediately move on from them. He acknowledged their immense contributions to Indian cricket in the past, but emphasized that it would ultimately be up to the selectors to decide whether the time had come to make changes. Gavaskar pointed out that while Kohli and Rohit are enduring lean patches, their track records are impressive enough to warrant patience from the selectors and the team management.
With just one match remaining in the series, India faces an uphill battle to draw or win the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Gavaskar's comments highlight the frustration among fans and pundits alike regarding the form of the senior players, but he also called for a measured approach, recognizing the immense talent and past achievements of both Kohli and Rohit. How the selectors respond to the ongoing struggles of these stalwarts will be critical to India's prospects in the remainder of the series and beyond.
