Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta has sparked a controversial debate over the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Indian cricket team. Dasgupta suggested that comparing the two Indian cricket icons is not fair, saying their careers and roles should be evaluated separately.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ended their T20I careers in style after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June last year in the United States and the Caribbean. But now questions are being asked about their place in the Indian Test team after their disastrous last season with the bat.
Deep Dasgupta sparks fresh debate on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future in India with bold catch
The 2024/25 Test season would definitely be the worst for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The former Indian captain has managed just 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.47, including a century, while Rohit’s form has been even more alarming with the bat in Test cricket.
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The Indian captain scored just 164 runs in 15 innings, averaging just 10.93 with a solitary half-century. At 37, Rohit’s age and declining performances have prompted questions about his role in the Test team, especially as he turns 40 in the next World Test Championship cycle.
The Indian batting icons’ recent performance on the Australia tour has sparked a massive debate over their Test future, and even now, the BCCI and selectors are reportedly mulling over taking a call on their future with the team after the upcoming Trophy. ICC Champions 2025.
Let’s not pair Rohit and Virat: Deep Dasgupta urges BCCI, selectors
Amid scrutiny over their future in India, Deep Dasgupta has given Rohit Sharma five months, but he is against the idea of evaluating Virat Kohli on the same parameters. The former Indian keeper-batsman pointed out that Virat and Rohit are different players, just like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, so the selector has to evaluate the duo differently.
Deep Dasgupta said on Star Sports, “Let’s not put Rohit and Virat together. Just like in the previous generation of Indian cricket, where Sachin (Tendulkar) and Rahul (Dravid) were different, one has to evaluate each player individually.
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With the next five months packed with white-ball matches and IPL 2025, pressure is mounting on Rohit Sharma to deliver on his promises, and Dasgupta believes his performances during this period will play a vital role in determining about his future in the Indian cricket team.
Deep Dasgupta predicts that the next 5 months will be very crucial for Rohit Sharma
Furthermore, the cricket expert pointed out that Rohit’s fitness, form in first-class cricket and his performance in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will also be crucial factors that the national selectors would take into consideration before taking their final decision.
Dasgupta concluded by saying, “For Rohit, the next five months of predominantly international white-ball cricket and IPL will be crucial. The weight of his performances in these formats will be revealing. Beyond that, factors such as his first-class cricket form, fitness and performances in the Champions Trophy will also be important. The final decision rests with the selectors.
Notably, both Kohli and Rohit are currently preparing for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England at home. This series would be crucial for both to prove their detractors wrong.
