New Delhi: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have struggled to score runs in the home Test series against New Zealand. Kohli scored just 93 runs in three Test matches while Rohit scored 91 runs across six innings.
The flop show of the two senior batters was one of the main reasons for India’s 3-0 defeat against the Blackcaps. Sanjay Manjrekar backed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to score runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He said that both batters struggled to score runs on turning pitches but facing pace and bounce is not a problem for Virat and Rohit. He further added that Virat was India’s best player during the Test series against South Africa and Australia will be home away from home for them.
“Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be thinking ‘it’s good. we are going to play in a home away from home’. They were struggling a lot on turning pitches. Facing pace and bounce is not a problem for Rohit Sharma. If you have seen Virat Kohli in South Africa the last time India toured there, he was looking like India’s best player. For him, there will be a sigh of relief. It’s a home away from home for them” Manjrekar told Star Sports.
Virat Kohli’s record in Australia
The former India captain missed three Test matches during the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Despite that, he has scored 1352 runs in 13 Test matches, including six centuries. Kohli averages over 50 runs per innings in Australia. With Rohit Sharma likely to miss the first Test due to paternity leave, Kohli has extra responsibility to guide young Indian batters.
“Rohit Sharma will not be there in the first. For him, it will be a bit of a break (from scrutiny). Because of his absence, the team will be a bit more lighter” Manjrekar added.
If Rohit misses the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah will lead Team India in the series opener in Perth on November 22. The Indian players have reached in Australia and started the preparations for the much-anticipated series.
Sanjay Manjrekar backed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to score runs in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The two batters struggled against the Kiwi spinner in India’s3-0 defeat to New Zealand at home. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
