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With Champions Trophy 2025 approaching, Rhodes asks fans to support Rohit & Kohli after their poor show in Australia.
Rohit Sharma (left) and Virat Kohli struggled to score in Australia. (PTI Photo)
With the pressure mounting on India’s senior pair, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following their horrendous performance in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, the South African icon, Jonty Rhodes reckons that it is ‘harsh’ for the two to take on all the blame for India’s poor performances Down Under.
Rhodes in an interview with IANS explained how Australia is in reality one of the toughest tours for any side and this was a rare instance where both the senior stars did not come to form.
“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. Cricket is that kind of game and I think the cricket players themselves in this day and age, there is no escape from the public, whether it’s fans who love them or fans who are criticizing them with social media, journalism these days. Everybody seems to be a cricketing expert and players learn to live with that.
“Touring Australia is really tough. And I think maybe the Indian fans have forgotten that because India has been so successful in the past in their last two tours to Australia. But it wasn’t easy. You know, some great performances by the team almost resurrected the previous tours. And it didn’t quite happen this time around so to lay the blame at the feet of two people is harsh,” Rhodes mentioned.
The pair are under the spotlight for their lack of runs and they will be under pressure to deliver performances, especially for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which will hold even more precedence.
Rhodes also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in attendance at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue and National Youth Festival. The former South Africa great hailed the PM’s efforts to build a strong foundation for the future.
The discussion was held at Bharat Mandapam and brought close to 3,000 people, from different fields, from all across the country in what was a truly innovative experience.
“It’s got the support of the public because you’ve seen real backing from the government. And it’s not just lip service. When the PM says he’s going to do something, he jumps right in. And the fact that the youth of India have this opportunity to speak directly to the head of government, doesn’t happen in many places around the world.
“So I think it’s a great initiative. I think the PM also understands that to get to where he wants to, Viksit Bharat 2047, needs a strong foundation and the youth are the foundation of 2047. So he’s starting at the right place,” he added.
(with IANS Inputs)
