Yuvraj Singh has come to the defence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have faced criticism for their lacklustre performances in the recently concluded 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian team suffered a 1-3 defeat against Australia, marking the first time in a decade that the Aussies reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Much of the blame was directed at Kohli and Rohit, with both senior players failing to live up to expectations during this crucial series. Kohli’s performance, though highlighted by an unbeaten century in the opening Test in Perth, was ultimately underwhelming, as he accumulated only 190 runs across five matches.
Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, struggled throughout the series, managing a mere 31 runs in five innings, with a dismal average of just 6.20. Despite their poor showing, Yuvraj emphasized the importance of recognizing their previous contributions to Indian cricket.
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“We are talking about our greats, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma; we are saying very bad things about them. People forget what they have achieved in the past. They are one of the greatest cricketers of this time,” Yuvraj Singh said at an event on January 7, as reported by News18. He urged the critics to remember their stellar careers and the immense impact they’ve had on Indian cricket.
Yuvraj also expressed his confidence in the leadership of Kohli and Rohit, as well as in head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. He believes that this group represents the best minds in cricket and will lead the Indian team toward future success. The former all-rounder also praised Rohit for his decision to step down from the Sydney Test due to poor form, calling it a mark of his leadership.
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“I think it is a big thing. I have never seen in the past that the captain’s form is not going well, and he himself has gone out. And this is Rohit Sharma’s greatness, that he has kept the team ahead of himself,” Yuvraj Singh added. He commended Rohit’s leadership, citing India’s successes under his captaincy, including the World Cup final and T20 World Cup victory.
