New Delhi: Team India won the first Test against Bangladesh by 280 runs at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The likes of Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin made important contributions to the team’s victory.
But Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed to score runs in both innings of the opening Test match. The Indian captain scored 6 and 5 runs while Kohli scored 6 and 17 in both innings of the match. Rohit last played red-ball cricket during the five-match Test series against England while Kohli last played Test cricket in January before Bangladesh series.
Both batters didn’t participate in the Duleep Trophy 2024 which served as a preparatory event for the Bangladesh series. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah also didn’t participate in the Duleep Trophy but he picked up 4 wickets in the first innings.
Kohli’s numbers are worrying signs
Rohit had a decent series against England but Kohli’s numbers are more concerning for Indian cricket, considering Team India will play Test matches against New Zealand and Australia in October and November.
In 2024, Kohli has batted four times in Test cricket and has scored just 81 runs. His career average also dropped to an eight-year low of 48.74. He has scored 401 runs in seven Test matches since the start of 2022, which includes only one century. In Asia, The star Indian batter scored just 654 runs in 23 innings at an average of 29.72 since 2021, including one century and two fifties.
‘Virat and Rohit not playing in the Duleep Trophy was not good for Indian cricket’: Sanjay Manjrekar
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said that Virat and Rohit would have been in a better position if they participated in the Duleep Trophy. He further added that two senior players not playing in the Duleep Trophy was not good for Indian cricket.
“I am not worried, but the two would have been better off had they got practice with the red ball in Duleep Trophy 2024. One has to be careful about treating some players differently and what is good for the Indian cricket and the players” Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
“Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma not playing in the Duleep Trophy was not good for Indian cricket and them as well. Had they been part of the tournament, things would have panned out differently in Chennai” he added.
Former India cricketer criticised BCCI for giving special treatment to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both batters have struggled to score in the first Test against Bangladesh. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
