Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their repeated failures in the BGT 2024-25 series. Reacting to their dismissals on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test, Manjrekar suggested that Kohli’s status as an all-time great might be questioned, while Rohit’s shot was deemed indefensible.
India suffered an 184-run defeat against Australia in the fourth Test of the five-match series on Monday, December 30, at Melbourne. Chasing a target of 340, India was bowled out for 155 in 79.1 overs. Rohit (9) was caught at gully while attempting a whip off Pat Cummins, and Kohli (5) fell to Mitchell Starc, chasing a wide delivery outside off.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after India’s disappointing performance, Manjrekar criticized the senior players’ poor shot selection. He remarked:
“Rohit Sharma, the shot that he played after playing so well, I don’t think there’s an excuse for that. That has to be looked at as a mistake. That Virat Kohli keeps getting out in this fashion makes you doubt his all-time greatness because it is just becoming a bit too much.”
After India slumped to 33/3, Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) and Rishabh Pant (30) steadied the innings with an 88-run stand. However, Pant fell to part-timer Travis Head, miscuing a pull shot. While Pant’s shot drew criticism, Manjrekar questioned if India were attempting an unlikely chase.
The 59-year-old remarked: “As for Pant, I just wonder, in that last session, because India had so many wickets in hand, whether there was some talk. In the press conference, Rohit Sharma alluded to it that.”
”With wickets in hand, they thought they could make one attempt with Pant out there and see if things happen – some miraculous recovery could happen. If that wasn’t the case, they could play out for a draw.”
Kohli and Rohit’s Performance in BGT 2024-25
Kohli has scored just 167 runs in seven innings during BGT 2024-25, averaging 27.83. While he registered a century in the second innings of the Perth Test, his contributions otherwise have been minimal. In Melbourne, he made 36 in the first innings but was unsettled by Jaiswal’s run-out and soon fell, chasing another loose delivery outside off.
Rohit, who missed the first Test, has fared even worse, scoring only 31 runs in five innings at a poor average of 6.20, with a top score of 10. He has struggled to find any rhythm throughout the three Tests he has played.
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