India’s captain Rohit Sharma faced a tough outing in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, managing just six runs in the first innings and five in the second. His struggles at the crease mirrored those of star batter Virat Kohli, who scored six and 17 runs in the respective innings. In his first innings, Kohli attempted a cover drive but nicked the ball to slips. His second innings ended with a dismissal by a spinner, yet he chose not to challenge the on-field lbw decision that could have saved him.
Despite these lacklustre performances, former cricketer Aakash Chopra has voiced no concerns about the form of either player. He pointed out that Rohit had been in exceptional form during the T20 World Cup 2024, while Kohli played a crucial innings in the final. Chopra also recalled Rohit’s solid performance in the preceding ODI series against Sri Lanka.
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“I would say it’s not a concern. Sometimes, runs don’t come, but that’s not alarming unless it becomes a prolonged issue. Both players exited the T20 World Cup on a high note, which naturally invites a bit of rest. After that, they were sent to Sri Lanka for ODIs, where Rohit looked impressive, and while Kohli didn’t score runs there, he faced no issues before this Test,” he explained on his YouTube channel.
Chopra speculated that it might have benefitted Kohli and Rohit to participate in the Duleep Trophy, suggesting that the tournament could have helped them regain their rhythm ahead of the Test series.
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“They didn’t play in the Duleep Trophy, and I understand the concerns surrounding that decision. It could have been advantageous for them to have played, as there’s no shame in participating in such competitions to stay in form,” he added. As the Indian team looks ahead, the hope remains that both Rohit and Kohli can bounce back and find their footing in the upcoming matches.
