In a match where the spotlight was on two veteran players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, following their long-awaited comeback to international cricket, both looked rusty in adverse batting conditions during a rain-affected match in Australia. While Rohit managed one boundary before falling for a score of eight, Kohli’s struggle against outside off-stump deliveries continued as he was caught by Cooper Connolly at backward point off Mitchell Starc for a duck.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif pointed out that Rohit and Virat missed the opportunity to travel to Australia ahead of the rest of the team to acclimatise to the conditions. He remarked on the importance of game time and rhythm.
“Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had the opportunity. But maybe they thought they would go together with the team, as people are behind them anyway. There might have been pressure, like ‘Virat should travel with the team’; he has shifted to England, so that pressure was there. It would have been another problem if he had not travelled with the team. So he got caught in this,” said Kaif on his YouTube channel.
“These two had an opportunity to go there eight to ten days earlier. No matter how big a batter you are, this is a game of rhythm. A team like Australia will not spare you if you are not in rhythm. I feel it would have been better if they had arrived earlier,” he added.
Kaif cited Rohit’s dismissal as an example of how a lack of game time cost him his wicket while playing his favourite pull shot.
“Rohit pulls the short ball. He pulls the ball that he got out to. But because he did not have enough game practice and it was seaming with Hazlewood in good rhythm, he had to be prepared. If he is in form, he hits that ball for a six. But maybe here he thought to take some time and get used to the pitch. He seemed to be in two minds. Due to a lack of practice and preparation, his confidence was low in this game,” he said.
Crushing loss
On a surface that aided bowlers and with constant rain interruptions making life tougher for the batters, the Indian top-order failed to withstand quality bowling from the Aussies, with Shubman Gill-led India managing only 136 in 26 overs. Australia romped home in just 21.1 overs to win the match by seven wickets.
