In the last ten innings, Rohit Sharma has scored only 133 runs, while Virat Kohli has managed 192 runs. Both players have hit just one half-century each. If India had won their recent match, it might have hidden their struggles, but after a tough defeat against New Zealand on home ground, their batting performance is now in the spotlight.
This has led to discussions about whether they should be dropped from the Test team.
On October 25, while the New Zealand series was still ongoing, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Rohit will continue as captain, alongside Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja. With Ashwin over 38 and Rohit over 37, Kohli will celebrate his 36th birthday tomorrow, and Jadeja will also turn 36 in December.
This could be the last time these four senior players tour Australia together.
However, if they all struggle on this trip, especially if India fails to reach the World Test Championship final, it could mean the end of their Test careers.
Indian media outlet India Today has reported that BCCI officials may soon meet with head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to discuss the future of these senior players.
Following their recent 3-0 loss to New Zealand, which is only the second time India has been whitewashed at home in a Test series, the pressure is increasing.
It is commonly believed that Rohit and Kohli handle spin bowling better than players from Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand, but this series has challenged that idea. In the three-match series, New Zealand took 60 wickets, with their spinners claiming 37 of those.
To prepare for the Mumbai Test, India`s management even called up 35 net bowlers, most of whom were spinners, but this strategy did not work.
In the Mumbai Test, New Zealand`s spinners took 16 out of India`s 20 wickets. Kohli got run out in the first innings after a risky run, and in the second innings, he scored just one run.
This marks the first time in his long Test career that he has been out for single digits in both innings of a match.
Kohli`s recent struggles against left-arm spinners have become a concern for fans.
Since 2020, he has been dismissed by left-arm spinners 12 times and has a low batting average of just 20.41 against them.
In his last eight innings, he has been out four times to left-arm spinners like Shakib Al Hasan and Ajaz Patel. Surprisingly, despite his international struggles, he hasn`t played in domestic first-class cricket since November 2012.
In both innings of the Mumbai Test, India lost their first wicket to Rohit. Only two of India`s wickets were taken by New Zealand`s pace bowlers, both by Matt Henry, and one of them was Rohit.
In his last ten innings, Rohit has returned to the dressing room with single-digit scores six times. While Kohli is struggling against spin, Rohit seems to have issues with pace bowlers. In six of his last ten innings, he was dismissed by bowlers like Hasan Mahmud and Tim Southee.
Rohit has been aggressive in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20s, but this approach has not been effective in Tests. He has developed a habit of playing aggressively, often leading to his dismissal even on good deliveries.
Former Indian captain Anil Kumble has raised concerns about Rohit`s shot selection and batting approach. He suggested that attacking fast bowlers early in the innings may not be wise.
After such disappointing performances, Rohit faced tough questions in a press conference. He admitted that his captaincy and batting against New Zealand were not up to par but preferred to focus on the upcoming series in Australia.
Following their 3-0 loss to New Zealand, India has fallen to second place in the World Test Championship standings.
To secure a place in the final, India must win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia by at least 4-1. If Rohit, Kohli, Ashwin, and Jadeja fail again, there are hints from a senior BCCI official that they may not be included in future tours.
An anonymous official told the PTI news agency that the situation will be closely monitored as the team prepares to leave for Australia on November 10.
While the squad has already been announced, making changes now could be risky. If India does not reach the Test Championship final, this could be the last Test together for these four senior players.
Jasprit Bumrah has been named as the vice-captain for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but due to his injury history, he may be played selectively.
This means that even though he is vice-captain, he might not take over as captain after Rohit. Shubman Gill or Rishabh Pant could be potential candidates for the captaincy, especially after their strong performances in the New Zealand series.
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