Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to 'not retire on their own' as BCCI hell-bent to solve dilemma after Pathan, Gavaskar's rant

[rollingstoned]

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to 'not retire on their own' as BCCI hell-bent to solve dilemma after Pathan, Gavaskar's rant

 

BCCI is reportedly eager to solve the selection dilemma on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma after their disastrous tour of Australia

Former India cricketers Irfan Pathan and Sunil Gavaskar fumed at the superstar culture in Indian cricket and the lack of commitment to playing in domestic cricket tournaments amid the struggles in international cricket. Their comments were completely directed towards India's two senior batters, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who had a disastrous tour of Australia. And the comments, which went viral on social media, were paid heed to by BCCI officials as well, as they reportedly are hell-bent on solving the dilemma.

 

India's captain Rohit Sharma, left, looks on as teammate Virat Kohli rubs to shine the ball before passing it to the bowler(AP)

 

Kohli, barring that century in the series opener in Perth, emerged as one of the biggest letdowns. He finished with just 190 runs at 23.75 across eight innings. Amid the poor returns with the bat, experts' biggest concern was the re-emergence of his vulnerability against the deliveries outside the off stump. He was dismissed seven out of eight times against the variety, with Scott Boland being the key wrecker-in-chief, having picked up Kohli's wicket four times in three matches.

 

 

 

Rohit, on the other hand, finished with only 31 runs in five innings, recording the worst-ever average by a touring skipper in Australia, before he "opted out" of the fifth Test.

The poor stretch of run from the two stalwarts in Indian cricket did spark discussions on their future in Test cricket and whether the selectors would at all consider them when the fresh World Test Championship cycle begins in late June. However, a report in Dainik Jagran indicated that Kohli and Rohit are unlikely to retire on their own, leaving the difficult task up to the Ajit Agarkar-led led selection committee.

"The officials of the team are also unhappy with the defeat. The team going through a difficult phase of change will now have to do a lot of introspection after returning home. When asked about this, the top BCCI official said I was listening to Gavaskar and Irfan after the match. When asked about Virat and Rohit, he said there are no indications that these two will retire from Tests on their own. BCCI cannot even ask them to retire, but something will have to be done for the team's betterment. Certainly, when the time comes, the selectors will take the right decision," read the report.

Soon-to-be BCCI office bearers address Kohli-Rohit issue

The report further added that Devajit Saikia, who is set to replace Jay Shah as the new BCCI secretary, and Prabhtej Bhatia, who applied for the post of treasurer on Saturday at the Wankhede, had a discussion on Kohli's recent troubles against the deliveries outside the off stump.

 

"One official said that he has been out like this in the last six innings, while the other corrected him and said that this may have happened eight times," read the report.

 

It's going to be a stare contest I guess. 

[rollingstoned]

Do Kohli and Rohit have a future in Test cricket? 'It's up to them,' says Gambhir

Gambhir makes it clear that he wants Test hopefuls to take domestic cricket seriously, and play the Ranji Trophy if they are not committed elsewhere

 

 

Following India's defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, questions loom over the futures of India's captain Rohit Sharma, who stood himself down in the Sydney Test, and senior batter Virat Kohli, who fell for his seventh score of 20 or less in the series.

 

Head coach Gautam Gambhir offered them support but left the big decision to the players.

 

"I can't talk about the future of any player," Gambhir said at the press conference after the series. "It's up to them as well. But yes, what I can say is that they still have the hunger. They still have the passion. They're tough people. And hopefully they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. But ultimately, as we all know, that whatever they plan, they will plan for the best interest of Indian cricket."

 

 

Rohit has averaged 10.93 over his last eight Test matches with only one fifty-plus score. He spoke to Star Sports at lunch on the second day and said that he had taken the decision to sit out the fifth Test because he thought it would have been hard for the team to win carrying so many out-of-form batters.

 

He also clarified that he wasn't retiring from Test cricket yet.

 

Kohli, meanwhile, has been left frustrated by his vulnerability outside the off stump. He made an unbeaten hundred in Perth but all eight of his other trips to the crease have ended with his outside edge being snaffled up by the wicketkeeper or in the slips. In Melbourne, when that happened, he slumped over his bat. He had been playing an innings that looked, in Steven Smith's words, like a masterclass until then. In Sydney, when it happened again, he yelled at himself and punched his leg.

 

"First of all, every individual knows where their game and hunger is," Gambhir, who had himself gone through a phase late in his career where he was out of form but battling to make the team. "That's the most important thing for any sport and any profession. It's not just about the sport.

 

"It's about how hungry you are, how passionate you are, and whether the team is moving forward with your contribution or not. Because ultimately, it's neither my team, nor your team, it's the country's team. I believe, as I said, there are very honest players in our dressing room who know how hungry they are.

 

 

"But yes, as far as my question is concerned, my biggest responsibility is that I have to be fair to everyone in that room. Not only one or two individuals. If I'm fair to only two or three individuals, and not to everyone else, then I'm being dishonest to my job. So whether it's a player who hasn't debuted yet, or a player who has played 100 Test matches, my simple goal in my job is that I have to be absolutely fair and equal to everyone."

 

India do not have another Test match to play until June 2025, when they tour England for five games. Rohit will be 38 by then and Kohli will be pushing 37.

 

When asked about his thoughts on a long-term roadmap for the team in red-ball cricket, and whether it was time to invest in youngsters, Gambhir said, "Look, it's too early to talk about it. The series has just got over. I think we still have five more months to plan where we want to head towards. But it's not the right moment right now for me to talk about that. Where are we going to be after five months?

 

"A lot of things change in sport. Forms change. People change. Attitude change. Everything changes in sport. And we all know that five months is a long time. So, let's see before the [England] series what's going to happen. But whatever will happen, will happen for the best interest of Indian cricket."

"If you don't give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players what you want in Test cricket"

 

 

Gambhir: 'I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket'

 

India next play England in a T20I and ODI series at home in January-February before moving to the UAE for their share of fixtures in the Champions Trophy, which is being hosted by Pakistan. For the players who do not make those squads, there is the option of playing the Ranji Trophy, which resumes after a break on January 23.

 

"I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket," Gambhir said. "That is how much importance domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game. If they're available and they have the commitment to play red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket. As simple as it can get.

 

"If you don't give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players what you want in Test cricket."

[The Dark Horse]

When did Rohit Sharma play his last Ranji match? 

Edited January 6 by The Dark Horse

[Gollum]

Ashwin's stature continues to grow, rare honourable man in Indian cricket. From recent interviews, it seems he wanted to retire after the NZ series. No one else has any accountability, shame, moral responsibility 

[Bigg Brother]

Rohit will obviously retire, he just want to be retired as someone so respectable that people would remember him. Right now with him averaging 6 in series and Bumrah literally snatching away captaincy from him, nobody will remember him.

 

Kohli OTOH is egoistic who thinks that he can fix what is lacking and doesn't want to acknowledge that he isn't the best player in the team(Although he never was) and wants to play more. It's upto Jasprit Bumrah (new captain) if he can get rid of them like Dhoni did or not. 

[Lord]

8 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Ashwin's stature continues to grow, rare honourable man in Indian cricket. From recent interviews, it seems he wanted to retire after the NZ series. No one else has any accountability, shame, moral responsibility 

Wouldn't say that. Ashwin probably retired because he wasn't being picked in O/S conditions and next home series is an year away. 

[rkt.india]

Retiring or not is their decision. Selecting them or not is up to selectors. You can't force them to retire but you can drop them. 

Edited January 7 by rkt.india

[The Realist]

'Test cricket isn't a place for 37-year-olds at the top of the order' - Simon Katich questions Rohit Sharma's future

Since Sharma scored a century against England in March in Dharamsala, he has passed 50 only once in 15 innings, and been dismissed before reaching double figures in 10 of those outings.

 

'Test Cricket Isn't A Place For 37-Year-Olds At The Top Of The Order' - Simon Katich Questions Rohit Sharma's Future | Cricket News Today

[nevada]

Let them not retire. But don't let them anywhere near the national team. 

[Gollum]

4 hours ago, Lord said:

Wouldn't say that. Ashwin probably retired because he wasn't being picked in O/S conditions and next home series is an year away. 

Think he would still have made sporadic appearances overseas. And no one has the guts to drop even a 42 year old Ashwin at home/SC/WI, despite his decline.....Ashwin/Jadeja have that extra room like Broad/Anderson. 

 

Glad he stepped aside completely, so that Washi could play without any added pressure or spotlight. Otherwise imagine his state of mind if he got picked ahead of Ashwin again....no margin for error else everyone would have questioned his selection. ICF is a rare space with mostly sensible fans who know that Ashwin is a spent force and we'd be better off backing Sundar/Kuldeep/Axar/Kishore/Kotian, talking about how rest of Indian cricket fans perceive things. 

Edited January 6 by Gollum

[tweaker]

15 hours ago, nevada said:

Let them not retire. But don't let them anywhere near the national team. 

BCCI has no guts to drop them.

[diga]

17 hours ago, The Realist said:

'Test cricket isn't a place for 37-year-olds at the top of the order' - Simon Katich questions Rohit Sharma's future

Since Sharma scored a century against England in March in Dharamsala, he has passed 50 only once in 15 innings, and been dismissed before reaching double figures in 10 of those outings.

 

'Test Cricket Isn't A Place For 37-Year-Olds At The Top Of The Order' - Simon Katich Questions Rohit Sharma's Future | Cricket News Today

how old is Khawaja ? or how old was Ponting when he retired.

[rollingstoned]

12 minutes ago, diga said:

how old is Khawaja ? or how old was Ponting when he retired.

Aus were playing Chris rogers for a hear or 2 who was the definition of journeyman.

[raki05]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/bcci-new-secretary-send-ajit-agarkar-strict-message-drop-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-they-need-to-show-they-are-not-pawns-101736226320965.html

[LordPrabhzy]

3 hours ago, tweaker said:

BCCI has no guts to drop them.

when BCCI and selectors are in the pockets of IPL owner lobby and corporate/media giants then how can they drop these two... Thats why they have built up their PR for years and invested their money to get the right backing due to which neither the BCCI, selectors or the Coach can drop them.

 

TV rights are sold on the basis that toxic fanboys will tune in to watch matches to see these two oldies play.. if there are no PR superstars in the team then how will BCCI make TV rights money. That's why they are forcing Gill to be the face of Indian cricket as he is good looking, has female following, GT captain etc even though he might be a mediocre overall plater

Edited January 7 by LordPrabhzy

[RajBan]

5 hours ago, LordPrabhzy said:

when BCCI and selectors are in the pockets of IPL owner lobby and corporate/media giants then how can they drop these two... Thats why they have built up their PR for years and invested their money to get the right backing due to which neither the BCCI, selectors or the Coach can drop them.

 

TV rights are sold on the basis that toxic fanboys will tune in to watch matches to see these two oldies play.. if there are no PR superstars in the team then how will BCCI make TV rights money. That's why they are forcing Gill to be the face of Indian cricket as he is good looking, has female following, GT captain etc even though he might be a mediocre overall plater

Gill is groomed as a successor of that toxic legacy. The guy was immensely talented but lost focus too early to bea better player, instead got busy with glam world and lost it out before it even began. To be fair it is better than he got damaged before he was put in the demi god pedestal by the PR team. Can't say that with Rohit and Kohli though. BCCI is struggling to rein the monsters that they created where merit takes a backseat to corporate interests. 

 

Fortunately KL and Hardik bandwagons, the other two dimwits who were bloated with heavy PR engines have also nosedived before it can even start flying regardless of the heavy backing they received.

[vvvslaxman]

8 hours ago, diga said:

how old is Khawaja ? or how old was Ponting when he retired.

I think he is  taking a dig at Khawaja as well. He is just not openly telling it lol 

[sensible-indian]

8 hours ago, rollingstoned said:

Aus were playing Chris rogers for a hear or 2 who was the definition of journeyman.

The opener right?

 

Harsh take bro.

 

He played a crucial role when Australia was struggling to find good openers.

 

Got his chance too late.

 

Did well with whatever chances he got and retired.

 

Good cricketer.

 

Just checked..

 

42 average as a opener. Good stuff.

[LordPrabhzy]

1 hour ago, RajBan said:

Gill is groomed as a successor of that toxic legacy. The guy was immensely talented but lost focus too early to bea better player, instead got busy with glam world and lost it out before it even began. To be fair it is better than he got damaged before he was put in the demi god pedestal by the PR team. Can't say that with Rohit and Kohli though. BCCI is struggling to rein the monsters that they created where merit takes a backseat to corporate interests. 

 

Fortunately KL and Hardik bandwagons, the other two dimwits who were bloated with heavy PR engines have also nosedived before it can even start flying regardless of the heavy backing they received.

 

In affect all these newbies are mediocre in relation to the hype and succession plan BCCI have created. Literally the success and best interests of the country's team has taken a backseat and now PR/Corporate Lobby will decide who plays for India

[Adamant]

10 hours ago, sensible-indian said:

The opener right?

 

Harsh take bro.

 

He played a crucial role when Australia was struggling to find good openers.

 

Got his chance too late.

 

Did well with whatever chances he got and retired.

 

Good cricketer.

 

Just checked..

 

42 average as a opener. Good stuff.

Rogers was class, there were talks all over Aussie forum about why he wasn't picked earlier.

 

Quite an unusual take from rollingstoned.