In an attempt to regain form following a disastrous tour of Australia, experts and seasoned cricket players have expressed their strong belief that players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have been under fire, must play in the second half of the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season, which starts later this month. The two senior batsmen also received a subliminal message from head coach Gautam Gambhir on the importance of attending domestic cricket matches. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, however, believed that the two could miss the Ranji campaign along with the majority of batters who did not do well in the Australia series.
For the first time in eight years, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series after being crushed 1-3. India lost the series finale in Sydney on Sunday by six wickets, despite winning the first game in Perth.
In Frame: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
After the loss, Kaif followed other former cricket players in saying that India, whom he called “white-ball bullies,” needed to assemble a Test team for the next new World Test Championship cycle, which starts later in June.
“On 23rd February India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan (in Champions Trophy) and everyone will say we are a champion team in white-ball cricket. But if India want to team the World Test Championship then we will have to make a Test match team, will have to learn to play on seaming tracks. The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies. We are lagging too far behind. If we have to win WTC, then players will have to play domestic cricket on turning tracks, will have to practice on seaming tracks, otherwise we will not be able to win,” he said in a video posted on his social media page.
A growing number of experts have called for Kohli and Rohit to play in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, which starts on January 23, after their disappointing showing since September. Kohli, who has only averaged 30 runs since 2022, scored 190 runs in nine innings during the Australian tour, including a century in Perth. However, Rohit’s 31-run total at a pitiful 6.20 was the lowest average ever recorded by an Australian touring captain.
Players like Rohit and Kohli may miss the Ranji season again because, despite all the fuss, Kaif stated that it often makes sense to choose a break when the schedule becomes too demanding for these national team players. In addition, India will play against England in a white-ball series at home. The selectors are anticipated to choose a full-fledged team for the ODI match, which begins the first week of February. The Champions Trophy and the IPL will come next.
“I believe that India’s 1-3 loss serves as a wake-up call because we must now focus on Test cricket. Gautam Gambhir is not only to blame. All players have the opportunity to play Ranji Trophy, but they find it exhausting and would much rather relax than participate. How will they improve as players if they don’t participate in practice matches or the Ranji Trophy? Playing on turning tracks in India is difficult, while playing on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa is even more difficult. WTC will therefore continue to elude you if you don’t practice effectively. What happened has been helpful, and Team India must now put in a lot of effort in Test cricket,” Kaif continued.
Playing on turning tracks in India is difficult, while playing on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa is even more difficult. WTC will therefore continue to elude you if you don’t practice effectively. What happened has been helpful, and Team India must now put in a lot of effort in Test cricket,” Kaif continued.
Although they had received a lot of criticism for missing the Duleep Trophy in September, before the Test season began, despite having little to no assignments since the T20 World Cup victory in June, Kohli and Rohit had previously missed the first half of the Ranji season in October for the same reason.
