As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, former Australian captain Ian Chappell has raised concerns about the form of India’s batting giants Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Chappell, known for his keen insights into the game, believes that the challenging conditions in Australia might exacerbate the recent struggles of these two seasoned players, especially given the added bounce on Australian pitches.
The five-match Test series, set to begin on November 22 in Perth, holds immense significance for India’s World Test Championship (WTC) ambitions. To remain in contention for a spot in the WTC final, India must win at least four matches in the series without losing any.
However, the team is coming off a disappointing 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand, with Kohli and Sharma struggling to make an impact. Both players saw their averages dip below 16 in that series, an unexpected slump for such high-calibre talents. Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Outside the Rope, Chappell pointed out that Australia’s bouncy pitches could present further challenges.
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“They’re coming to Australia, where the pitches are pretty good, but there’ll be extra bounce. If they’ve gone over the top, that bounce will find them out,” he remarked. Chappell, however, also expressed optimism about India’s young talent, particularly Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who have shown promise at the international level.
Nonetheless, he suggested that age-related pressures might be subtly affecting Kohli and Sharma. “They’re at that point where age starts to creep into your head. You start wondering, ‘Am I getting to that stage where it starts to go downhill?’ And they’re both at that age,” he observed.
While Kohli’s track record in Australia remains impressive, with a Test average over 54, Sharma has faced difficulties, averaging under 32 in seven appearances Down Under. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor added another layer to the discussion, highlighting how the struggles of India’s senior players have inadvertently increased the burden on younger batsmen and the lower order.
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“They’ve moved on Pujara and Rahane, leaving Rohit and Kohli as their best two players. But with their rocky patch, the pressure has shifted to the younger players and lower order. The bulk of runs has to come from your best players, and for India, that hasn’t been happening over the last 12 to 18 months,” Mark Taylor commented, underscoring India’s pressing need for strong performances from their senior batters.
