Former Pakistan player Basit Ali said that India should push Virat Kohli down to No. 5 and promote in-form Nitish Kumar Reddy to No. 4 for the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney as well. Ali criticized Kohli for failing to learn from his mistakes and getting out in the same way game after game as well. However, India lost to Australia by 184 runs in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne that ended on Monday, December 30. Chasing a target of 340, India were all-out for 155 in 79.1 overs.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ali said (as quoted by Times of India): “Now is the time to bring Nitish up at No. 4 and Virat Kohli at No. 5 because he is not able to score at No. 4. He’s getting out on the same shot. Perform nahi ho raha to apna number toh neeche karo na. Rohit upara neeche kar raha hai, Virat ka koi nahi soch raha, kyunki darte hain na sab (if you are not able to score then drop lower down the order; Rohit is doing that but nobody thinking about Virat because everybody’s afraid).”

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Ali also questioned the decision to drop Shubman Gill from the playing XI for the MCG Test as well. He also blamed Rohit Sharma for sacrificing Gill’s place in the playing XI so that he could open the batting as well. He also slammed Rohit Sharma for opening the innings in the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne as well.

“Gill should have played, even if he scored a zero in both the innings. But just because of your number (Rohit’s opening position), you disturbed the lineup of the entire team,” he concluded. “Rohit is not in form, and the one who was scoring runs, (KL) Rahul, you put him under pressure as well. Aapne team ka confidence bilkul shatter kar diya (you shattered the confidence of the team). I think the time has come for Rohit to step down; Bumrah should be made captain for the last Test. You have served India a lot, but your body is not supporting you now.”