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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could only manage to score 91 and 93 runs, respectively, in six innings of the three Tests played against New Zealand.
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir isn’t worried about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s form. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli failed to fire in the last two Test series played against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home. In three matches of the series against New Zealand, which India lost by a 0-3 margin, Rohit could only manage to score 91 runs, whereas Kohli amassed a total of 93 runs. The poor performance by the two of the greatest Indian batters of all time was heavily criticised by many fans and former greats of the game.
After India suffered its first whitewash in a Test series played at home against Kiwis, many believed that the duo would not play a Test match in India again. But India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir is not worried about Kohli and Rohit’s form, and according to him, both the star batters are still very hungry to perform. He backed Rohit and Kohli to come up with a big show in the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, which starts on November 22 in Perth.
While speaking to reporters during India’s pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Monday (November 11), Gambhir said, “For me, they (Rohit and Kohli) are still very hungry. I am sure they have got a lot of fire to achieve a lot of success for the nation, and you should never doubt their passion for the country.”
Gambhir, who was appointed as India’s head coach in July 2024 after Rahul Dravid’s tenure came to an end, said he is not overtly worried about the transition the Indian team has to face in the near future.
“I am not thinking about transition but the five Test matches. Transition or no transition, if that has to happen, will happen, but I see some incredibly tough characters in that dressing room who are hungry to do well,” Gambhir said.
“I am not even thinking that the team is in transition and all that kind of stuff. The only thing in my mind is, we are going to Australia to play five Test matches, and there are some incredibly tough people in that dressing room who are going to achieve a lot of good things in the future as well,” he added.
