Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar shared his views on the controversy surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s performance in Test cricket. The cricket expert pointed out that it is unfair to judge Kohli and Rohit by the same standard, given their Test records.
Kohli and Rohit’s appalling form continued in the crucial Boxing Day Test, as Team India suffered a 184-run defeat to the hosts, Australia, who now lead the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 by a 2-1 margin, with the final Test scheduled to be played in Sydney from January 3. .
Sanjay Manjrekar says Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should not be judged by the same standards
In the fourth Test against Australia, Rohit made a blistering start but was dismissed for just 9 after facing 40 balls, while Kohli fell cheaply again for 5, continuing to struggle with deliveries outside off stump. Both batsmen have struggled in 2024, with averages just above 24 in Test cricket.
The Indian skipper has two centuries and two half-centuries this year, while Kohli has one fifty to his name in Test cricket in 2024. Fans and many experts have suggested that the Indian batting icons should consider retiring from Tests after their success. Consistently poor results in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.
However, Sanjay Manjrekar feels that Kohli should be given more chances and hailed the dashing right-hander as one of the greatest Test batsmen, but also questioned the role of Indian batting coach Abhishek Nayar, as the latter continues to go out in the same way.
Sanjay Manjrekar defends Virat Kohli, questions the role of the Indian batting coach
The former Indian batsman also strongly said that there is no comparison between Rohit and Virat as Test batsmen. He has criticized Abhishek Nayyar for Kohli’s recurring woes while insisting that enough has been said about the former Indian skipper and it is time to leave him alone.
“I have to say there is no comparison between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as Test batsmen. Kohli is up there. He is a great Test batsman, and Rohit is a good Test batsman. Rohit’s white-ball batting is fantastic. So, obviously,” Sanjay Manjrekar said in Star Sports. Virat deserves a longer rope.
It’s not so much about Virat Kohli. I want to know what a batting coach does in India. We cannot solve the obvious problem of such a good player. Enough has been said about Virat Kohli; We just have to leave him alone.
Read also: ‘The King is dead’: Former Australia star Virat Kohli was torn apart in a stinging attack
Sanjay Manjrekar urges Indian cricket team management and Ajit Agarkar to work on Rohit Sharma’s Test future
Manjrekar also urged the Indian cricket team management not to wait for Rohit Sharma to take a call on his Test future but to take action themselves. The commentator pointed out that Indian chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, has enough power to take decisions related to Indian cricket.
He stressed that it is now Ajit Agarkar’s responsibility to decide the future, not Rohit Sharma, but reiterated that Virat Kohli’s situation is a completely different matter. Manjrekar further clarified: “It’s not really up to Rohit Sharma. If you look at how the protocol and hierarchy of team selection is, the chief selector has the decision to make.”
“He has the power to do what’s best for Indian cricket, so it’s not about Rohit Sharma himself, you know, deciding what the future should be. The chief selector has that power. This is with Rohit, and he’s looking down,” Manjrekar concluded. Virat Kohli is in the doldrums, a completely different issue.
https://static.cricketaddictor.com/images/posts/2024/FotoJet-9–15.webp?q=80
Source link