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Time Taking Its Toll on Rohit, Kohli As They Take Their Own In Test Cricket | OPINION

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Time Taking Its Toll on Rohit, Kohli As They Take Their Own In Test Cricket | OPINION

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Mere months ago, the entire nation was left teary-eyed upon seeing the two idols step away from one format of cricket, but the same are now mobilized to kick the two out from another at any cost.

Rohit Sharma (left) and Virat Kohli (BCCI Photo)

Rohit Sharma (left) and Virat Kohli (BCCI Photo)

‘Chalao talwar’: the words uttered by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma which, now in hindsight, make it seem like he possessed immense foresight.

But even in his worst dreams, one could wager that Rohit might not have foreseen the utter humiliation his side would face as India failed to reach a target of 147 runs set by the Kiwis, thereby condemning themselves to eternal humiliation with a 3-0 whitewash at home, the first-ever in a three-match series for India. The swords were most definitely drawn at Rohit and his talisman Virat Kohli the very next moment and many were quick to point out the elephant in the room: the age of their superstars.

This isn’t a conversation that hasn’t been had over the past year, and one that percolated in the two icons stepping away from international cricket in the shorter format. But, see how cruel time can be. Mere months ago, the entire nation was left teary-eyed upon seeing their idols step away, but the same are now mobilized to kick the two out at any cost.

One may ask what’s a mob to a ‘King’? Well, not much perhaps. But, every ‘King’ is human after all. And as long as they are so, they shall face the unrelenting wrath of time.

There;s so much said about aging like a ‘fine wine’ when it comes to the two. But to age wine, one has to keep it under special temperature and lighting conditions. And it seemed as if the duo couldn’t find either of the same anywhere throughout the series. The numbers speak for themselves.

Let’s take Rohit first. As the skipper and the swashbuckling opener he is, much was expected of him, especially in crunch chases, when he was looked up to as the man to set the tone. But, what he seemed to have forgotten is that it’s not merely about how one starts but how one finishes. The ‘Hitman’ definitely missed the mark with that.

Across the 3 matches played, Rohit has scored just a meager 91 runs, at an abysmal average of 15.17. And over the year 2024, he has amassed only 588 runs from 11 matches at 29.40.

The belief in the Indian side has always been that if their leader falls, their talisman will take over and save the day. But, Kohli himself has been no better either, scoring a shameful 93 runs at 15.50 in the NZ series, whilst having racked up just 250 runs from 6 matches at 22.72 in 2024.

It is important to understand that there is no tarnishing the legacy they have etched for themselves, by themselves in the unforgiving landscape of Indian Cricket. But, at the same time, their past can’t act as a repellant for punishment in the future. That is something that not their fans, but rather the BCCI and Gautam Gambhir need to remind themselves time and time again. It is infuriating and rather unimaginable to witness that the two batters who have brought such joy to fans all over now frustrate the same more often than less.

But, it isn’t merely time that has taken the toll, but rather the seeming lack of interest and investment into the long format of the game itself as well.

Both batters and multiple senior players have over the years completely ignored the importance of playing domestic red-ball cricket. Hell, Rohit and Kohli opted out of the Duleep Trophy just prior to the Bangladesh series and turned up to face off Sri Lanka in a bilateral ODI series – one where they got smacked by the Lankans as well for the first time in 28 years. And what did that result in? The inability to play spin, the skewed shot selection, ill-timed DRS calls (and the lack of calls when needed), and being dismissed in the most mundane (and predictable) manners including multiple LBWs: that was the result.

Nobody wants to see both icons fail. All one wants is to see them age gracefully and depart from the sport on their own terms. But, if one doesn’t want to understand (or rather bounded by other forces) when to not leave the game, the game shall indubitably leave them.

All this to say that the blame does not fall only on those two for the humiliation faced in the hands of the Kiwis (there are many a culprit behind the dismal displays), but to merely express the frustration one feels in witnessing not just their icons, but their nation as well plunge into such unexplored depths. Every ICT fan wants to look at the tale of the NZ series as one of caution, and not as one of regret. The power to decide how the tale will further unfold falls on Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI who may hopefully prioritize the future of the Test team, and not the aesthetics of the same for the sake of it.

News cricket Time Taking Its Toll on Rohit, Kohli As They Take Their Own In Test Cricket | OPINION

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Time Taking Its Toll on Rohit, Kohli As They Take Their Own In Test Cricket | OPINION - Crikcrowd