India’s proud home record which had never been lost is finally gone the defeat against England stunned the fans across the cricketing nation. this is a reality which may have been long dreaded. the end of a very successful era in Indian cricket, that which is shared by Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Kohli and Sharma hardworking batsman have been a part of almost all the major indian efort of the last seventeen years starting from the 3 world cup trophies, reach the finals in 2 world test championships and win a test series without a lost match at home for 12 years.
This June they won the world cup held in the West Indies, these two have already announced retirement from T20 internationals, and they are not even contributing that much in the test format, a huge concern as the indian team gets ready for Australia for a five test match series.
India aims to maintain a clean record and survive from being whitewashed when they face New Zealand in the third test. With fans hoping to see their team captain Rohit and star batsman Kohli get some runs against the black caps before they head to Australia.
Rohit, who is opening the innings, has always been known to be the ones that take up aggressive swinging the bat, helping the Indian team secure back to back series victories in Australia. He has averaged six runs with a low score of one from eight matches’ batting from the position.
Kohli is one of the few current players who is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the history of the game but his consistency has dropped in the last 5 years with only two centuries to his name as well as two fifties in as many as his last twelve innings of Test cricket.
The right-hander’s average has gone down to thirty eight point thirty one and his weakness against left-arm orthodox spin, he was dismissed b New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner in both innings of the second test, has stood out.
‘“Kohli’s record against spin in Tests has been poor for the last two-three seasons,” his former Indian team mate D Karthik said.
Kohli was looking shell shocked after being bowled off a mere full toss ball by Santner in the first innings in Pune. He seemed to be thinking how he used to clear the ball for four boundaries at its prime.
“Left arm spinners have worked him over quite a few times and it should not take him long to get it right,” Karthik said.
“Dinesh Karthik is an honest man and is looking for explanations,” admitted Karthik.
But it is not only Rohit and Kohli who have been left behind as always in Asia’s biggest and youngest batting unit began to capitulate in the last two tests against New Zealand.
Skittled for 46 in Kolkatta and 146 in Pune, their inability to put up reasonable first inning scores all but ensured that there would be no fight back in either test. India have a narrow edge over Australia in the WTC table as things stand and another loss in Mumbai straight away puts them in a position where they would have to win four out of the five test matches in Australia to qualify for their third final in consecutive years.
The next few months could also determine whether Kohli (who is going to turn 36 next week), Rohit (who is a year older) will be able to make an extension to their test career or not.