File photo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
The criticism continues to pour in thick and heavy following Team India's 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand. Be it Rohit Sharma's captaincy, Gautam Gambhir's urge to change course, the middle-order's fragile show or Virat Kohli's barren form, many factors may have contributed to India's worst home series loss in the longest period of history. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, also a harsh critic of the Indian team, believes that Virat and Rohit skipping the Duleep Trophy also contributed quite a bit to the results the team recorded against the Kiwis.
According to a report, both Kohli and Rohit had initially agreed to participate in the domestic red-ball event. However, not long before the selections for the tournament were announced, the duo, as well as a few other senior stars, withdrew their names, citing a 'lack of motivation'.
As the Indian team sits on a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand and faces a complex challenge against Australia, Manjrekar has urged the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee not to give 'the already well-rested' any more break.
“The big lesson for the selectors this home season is not to rest the already well-rested players because of their status. I will say this again, both Rohit and Virat would have only benefited from playing the Duleep Trophy at the start of the season,” Manjrekar wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The big lesson for the selectors this home season is not to rest the already well-rested players because of their status.
Let me say this again, both Rohit and Virat would have only benefited from playing the Duleep Trophy at the start of the season.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 5, 2024
Kohli and Rohit will be given a big responsibility when the Indian team travels to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, without veterans like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. Some pundits are already suggesting that Kohli, Rohit and spin duo R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja may have played their last Test together at home.
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