"There has been a dip in concentration after winning the T20 World Cup" - Basit Ali on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali believes that a lack of concentration is to blame for Team India's star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's recent failures. He opined that the two seasoned campaigners have lost focus following the Men in Blue's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.
Sharma and Kohli have come under the scanner for failing to score big runs in the first two Tests of India's ongoing three-match Test series against New Zealand. Suggesting that the two veteran batters must step up and deliver in the team's upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against Australia, Basit said in a video shared on his YouTube channel (from 26:12):
"There has been a dip in concentration after winning the T20 World Cup for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Earlier there used to be proper practice before matches but now I feel there are just optional sessions. There is a lack of concentration. They think that if they get out, they will get a big score in the next match. The water has gone above the head now. If these two don't score runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it will be very tough for India."
With back-to-back victories in Bengaluru and Pune, New Zealand scripted history by winning their maiden Test series on Indian soil as they gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber. India, on the other hand, suffered their first home Test series defeat in 12 years.
Kohli has scored 88 runs across four innings at an average of 22 in the series, while Sharma has 62 runs to his name from four innings at an average of 15.50.
"It's a concern if you see his numbers for the last five years" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's form
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra recently pointed out that Virat Kohli has not been at his best in red-ball cricket in the recent past. He highlighted that the ace batter has just two Test centuries in the last five years.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-commentator said:
"Is Virat Kohli's Test form a concern? He has scored only two centuries in the last five years. It's a concern if you see his numbers for the last five years and that was before the start of this Test match. He played only six innings in 2020 and had an average of 19. He played 19 innings in 2021 but had an average of 28, with no century."
Virat Kohli will next be seen in action in the third Test of India's ongoing home series against New Zealand. The match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1.