Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two of Indian cricket’s biggest names, had underwhelming performances in the Chennai Test against Bangladesh, sparking debates about their absence from the recent Duleep Trophy. This domestic tournament, a crucial four-day red-ball event, saw several top Indian cricketers like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill participating to get valuable match practice ahead of an intense Test season.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with other senior players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja (who was withdrawn), Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, opted out, raising questions about their preparedness for the upcoming challenges. In the Chennai Test, Rohit managed to score just 11 runs, while Kohli fared slightly better with 23.
Despite these modest contributions, India secured a convincing victory by 280 runs. However, their performances have led to concerns, especially with India gearing up to host New Zealand for three crucial Tests, followed by a challenging five-Test series in Australia. These matches are pivotal in determining India’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.
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Rohit Sharma’s performance in Test cricket this year has seen him accumulate 466 runs from 13 innings at an average of 38.83. In contrast, Kohli’s numbers are notably lower, with only 81 runs from four innings. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that the two senior players seem to be receiving preferential treatment, hinting that their decision to skip the Duleep Trophy might not have been in the best interest of Indian cricket.
“I’m not worried, but I’m sure somebody made a note of the fact that they would have been better off had they played some red-ball cricket. There was the option of picking them in the Duleep Trophy. So one has to be careful about treating certain players differently and do what’s best for Indian cricket and for the player,” Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
He further added that participation in the Duleep Trophy could have been beneficial for both players, allowing them to regain their rhythm in the longer format. However, he remains optimistic about their ability to bounce back in the second Test in Kanpur.
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“Virat and Rohit not playing (Duleep Trophy) was not good for Indian cricket, nor was it good for the two players. Had they played the Duleep Trophy and had some time in the red-ball cricket, things would have been different. But they have the class and experience to make a comeback later in the series, and I don’t see them, for that reason, not being in form,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
Manjrekar also highlighted a longstanding issue in Indian cricket – the preferential treatment of certain players based on their status. While this might seem beneficial, it often does more harm than good to the players themselves.
