Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali reckons there has been a dip in concentration of veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after winning the T20 World Cup. After winning the T20I showpiece, the duo decided to retire from the T20I format but they haven’t been consistent enough in the red-ball series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
While Kohli returned with scores of 1 and 17 in the Pune Test against the Kiwis, Rohit registered scores of 0 and 8. India suffered a 113-run loss as New Zealand has taken an impregnable lead of 2-0 in the series.
In the last few years, Rohit and Virat haven’t been at their best in Test cricket and they have been averaging around 30, which is well below their lofty standards.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube Channel, “There has been a dip in concentration after winning the T20 World Cup for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Earlier there used to be proper practice before matches but now I feel there are just optional sessions. There is a lack of concentration. They think that if they get out, they will get a big score in the next match. The water has gone above the head now. If these two don’t score runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it will be very tough for India.”
On the other hand, former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels Virat Kohli’s form is a concern for the team as he has scored only two Test centuries in the last five years and averages 33.94.
Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “Is Virat Kohli’s Test form a concern? He has scored only two centuries in the last five years. It’s a concern if you see his numbers for the last five years and that was before the start of this Test match. He played only six innings in 2020 and had an average of 19. He played 19 innings in 2021 but had an average of 28, with no century.”
The third and final Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from November 1 onwards.
