After India's loss to Australia in the second Test, former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan opened up on the inconsistent form of star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and said they will have to perform well consistently as living on past laurels is the will make them difficult. they get older, but the expectations remain the same. He also believed that the 'Hitman' taking down the order at number six was a wrong move. After the birth of his second child, which caused him to miss the first Test in Perth, which was a memorable win by 295 runs, Rohit's return to cricket was far from spectacular, not just because he succumbed to double figures during difficult forays down the stretch. After being ranked number six, the team also succumbed to a 10-wicket loss in the pink-ball Test within just three days in Adelaide. After a century in Perth, Virat once again struggled with outside-off deliveries and scored just seven and 11 runs in the match.
Speaking to ANI, Atul said that as Rohit-Virat grows older, their exploits with the bat will diminish and this will happen as the age of the player increases.
“Look, I knew this focus was going to be on Virat and Rohit. This was going to come back again and again. But look, their heroics, you're going to see less of it as they get older. As you get older, it happens. You think that he That is not possible. But their value is worth gold. Because they are there and remain in the team, that is very important. You cannot survive on your laurels and reputation from the past. You can only do that but give so much influence. Then you start to worry when expectations become high, but your potential becomes low as you get older.
In the ongoing Test season 2024-25, Rohit has made 142 runs in six Tests across 12 innings at an average of 11.83, with a best score of 52 and only one fifty to his name. This year, Rohit has made 597 runs in 12 Tests and 23 innings at an average of 27.13, with two centuries and two fifties and a best score of 131.
On the other hand, in the ongoing Test season that started with series against Bangladesh, Virat has scored just 315 runs in 14 innings at an average of 26.25, with a century and a fifty in 14 innings. His best score is 100*. Since the start of 2020, Virat has posted disappointing Test figures with 1,961 runs in 36 matches and 64 innings at an average of 32.14, with just three centuries and nine fifties. His best score is 186.
Atul also said that Rohit not opening was a “tactical mistake” as he had that match that could bring him success in Australia. Rohit went into the match with an average of over 43 in 25 Tests as a middle-order batsman, with three centuries and six fifties. However, he could not add to his solid run in the order.
“Now I think it is a mistake that Rohit Sharma has not opened up. I think so. Because his attitude, his mentality is not middle-class. But KL (Rahul) has the ability to play up and down. I think It's a tactical mistake. That wouldn't work. Rohit is a great captain, no matter how he plays, in Australia he's more likely to come off and be successful. The mistake he made in New Zealand series, that he is his natural game tried to play against the flow, which was a bit difficult because now it's 6 innings (against NZ). There will be some pressure, but I think he just has to come back and play to his own potential, ability and talent , and we'll all be fine.”
In the match, India won the toss and chose to bat first. However, they had to face the wrath of a moving, erratic pink ball and its mastermind, Mitchell Starc (6/48). Apart from a 69-run stand for the second wicket between KL Rahul (37 in 64 balls with six fours) and Shubman Gill (31 in 51 balls, with five fours) and a fighting 42 in 54 balls (three fours and three sixes) from Nitish Kumar Reddy, there were not many highlights from India being bowled out for 180 runs. Skipper Cummins and Scott Boland also took two wickets.
In the first innings, a 67-run partnership between Nathan McSweeney (39 in 109 balls, with six fours) and Marnus Labuschagne (64 in 126 balls, with nine fours) for the second wicket provided the platform for Travis Head to assert his dominance over the impose on the world. Indian bowlers again counter-attacked 140 in 141 balls, with 17 fours and four sixes, just as the Aussies lost some regular wickets. His century took Australia to 337 points and gave them a 157-run lead.
Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) were top bowlers for India. Ravichandran and Nitish got a wicket each.
In their second innings, India looked even more toothless as the star-studded top and middle order returned to the pavilion despite starts from Jaiswal (24 in 31 balls, with four boundaries), Gill (28 in 30 balls, with three fours) while KL Rahul (7) and Virat Kohli (11 in 21 balls with a four) did not score well. India ended day two at 128/5.
On the third day, Pant also lost his wicket for 28 in 31 balls, with five fours. From then on, there was no looking back for Aussies, who bowled out India for 175 runs in 36.5 overs. India led by just 18 runs, leaving the Aussies with 19 runs to win.
Captain Cummins (5/67) took a majestic five-wicket haul, his eighth as captain. Boland took 3/51 while Starc took 2/60.
Khawaja (10*) and McSweeney (9*) set a target of 19 runs and chased it down in 3.2 overs without breaking a sweat.
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