Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has urged Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to participate in domestic cricket to regain their form before the England tour. This advice follows India's 3-1 series defeat in Australia, where both players struggled with consistency.
Rohit Sharma skipped the final Test in Sydney due to poor form, managing just 31 runs in five innings. Virat Kohli, despite starting the series with a century in Perth, faltered in subsequent games, with all his dismissals coming either behind the stumps or in the slip cordon.
Shastri’s comments echo current head coach Gautam Gambhir’s stance that players must commit to domestic cricket if they aim to succeed in red-ball formats.
"Fitness is paramount," Shastri told the ICC Review. "Experience matters, but form and fitness are equally crucial. In the next six months, there’s plenty of one-day cricket, but it’s vital for experienced players to test themselves in domestic cricket when possible. Playing domestic games helps them transition better to Test cricket."
However, India’s packed cricket calendar leaves limited opportunities for Kohli and Rohit to participate in first-class matches. The domestic white-ball season concludes in January, after which focus shifts to the Ranji Trophy. With India set to host England for ODIs before the Champions Trophy, the duo might only have a single Ranji game on January 23 to consider.
Another potential avenue could be the county championships in England, but this seems unlikely due to IPL commitments. Kohli, in particular, is expected to reprise his role as Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain, a position he relinquished in 2020.
Shastri’s suggestion is practical, but finding a feasible window amidst the crammed schedule remains a challenge.
Updated on 9th January, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.