New Delhi: Former Indian cricket team head coach, Ravi Shastri, believes that Virat Kohli still has a few more years of cricket left in him. However, regarding Rohit Sharma, Shastri emphasized that the decision to continue playing rests solely with the India captain. Both star batters have struggled with form during the ongoing Test series against Australia, leading to significant criticism from fans and experts alike. On Day 5 of the fourth Test in Melbourne, commentator Mark Nicholas posed a question to Shastri on Star Sports, asking whether this could mark the end of the road for both Kohli and Rohit.
Ravi Shastri believes Virat Kohli will continue playing for another three to four years, despite his recent struggles. He stated that Kohli’s form issues should be disregarded, as he sees him playing for a few more years.
As for Rohit Sharma, Shastri mentioned that the decision to retire or continue rests with the opener. He observed that Rohit’s footwork is not as sharp as before, and he seems late in meeting the ball, making it his personal decision by the end of the series.
On Day 5 of the fourth Test, India found themselves in trouble, with their top-order batters failing to cope with Australia’s pressure. After being set a daunting target of 340 runs, India was reduced to 33 for 3 at lunch. Rohit Sharma, after a solid start, was dismissed for 9 off 40 balls by Pat Cummins, marking the tenth time Cummins had dismissed him in Test cricket.
Virat Kohli (5 off 29) once again fell victim to his urge for the cover drive, as he was caught at first slip by Usman Khawaja after Mitchell Starc angled one across him. KL Rahul, without troubling the scorers, was dismissed for a duck after facing a well-executed delivery from Cummins. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who struggled throughout, faced 83 balls for a mere 14 runs as India headed to lunch in a perilous situation.
India’s approach reflected a mindset of limited hope for victory, as the morning session saw their chances fade away. The team’s subdued performance contrasted with a bold start usually expected from Rohit Sharma, who, amid his lean form, played cautiously without success.
Jasprit Bumrah, earlier in the day, completed his 13th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, helping to dismiss Australia for 234 in their second innings. The Indian team’s top-order woes continued as Rohit, instead of playing aggressively, seemed to adopt a safety-first approach, which failed to yield results.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal’s defensive strategy was also evident, as he was nearly undone by a delivery from Pat Cummins that moved late, resulting in a leading edge flying to Mitchell Marsh at gully. Rahul was soon dismissed as Cummins generated late movement to get the better of him.
