Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott feels Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is past his prime. He expressed that Rohit plays good cameos, but hasn’t made it big in the last few years in Test cricket. The comments came after India’s loss at home in the first Test against England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Rohit Sharma got off to good starts in both the innings of the Test match. However, he failed to build on it. India lost the test by 28 runs despite taking a 190-run lead in the first innings. Geoffrey Boycott expressed that England can secure a series win. He also added that Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja will be big misses for India in the second Test.
In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott said,
“Their captain Rohit Sharma is nearly 37 and past his best. He makes pretty cameos but has only scored two Test hundreds at home in four years. They are also weak in the field.”
“This India team is ripe for the taking, and England have a golden chance to be the first side to topple them on their patch for 12 years. India badly misses Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja has a hamstring injury and will not play the second Test.”
Virat Kohli missed the first test and will also miss the second due to personal reasons. Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja have been ruled out of the second test. Sarfaraz Khan, Saurabh Kumar and Washington Sundar are added to the squad.
“Jadeja is a huge blow. He is a great all-rounder, top bowler, brilliant fielder and was their best batsman in the first Test. Kohli is their talisman. He is a magnificent batsman who averages 60 on Indian pitches, but he also gives them great energy in the field. He is a big loss, and England must make the most of it before he comes back for the third Test,” said Geoffrey Boycott.
India are due a defeat at home:
India are due a defeat at home: Geoffrey Boycott
Geoffrey Boycott expressed that England must seize the opportunity to secure a series win against India as the hosts are a depleted side. He also added that India is due to lose a Test series at home. Geoffrey Boycott said,
“India are due a defeat at home. The signs are good, as they have lost Kohli, Jadeja, Mohammad Shami and Rishabh Pant and are playing opponents full of confidence after a remarkable win. England must take this rare opportunity.”
England is one up in the five-match Test series against India. They are set to play the second Test from February 2 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
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