India captain Rohit Sharma backed Virat Kohli for the latter’s extended run of underwhelming returns, while also speaking in detail about the team’s refreshing approach in terms of performing in the T20I format.
After failing to deliver big in the Edgbaston Test earlier in July, Virat registered scores of one and 11 in the second and third T20I against England, prompting further questions over his form. The former India skipper hasn’t scored an international hundred since November 2019, and his strike-rate of 116 during IPL 2022 had escalated debates on the T20 form too.
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Before the third T20I at Trent Bridge on Sunday, in which India went down by 17 runs despite Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant 55-ball 117, Kapil Dev had asked for selectors to make decisions on merit, and “not just go by reputation”, while talking of Kohli’s lean patch.
Rohit, however, stressed that the team think-tank goes through a proper decision-making process and backs its players, while dismissing what’s being said outside.
“It’s not difficult at all for us because we don’t listen to outside noise. Also, I don’t know who these experts are and why they’re called experts. I don’t get that,”
Rohit said in the post-match presser, as per ESPNcricinfo.
“They are seeing from outside, they don’t know what’s happening inside the team. We have a thought process, we make the team, we debate and discuss it and think a lot about it. The players [we pick] are backed, they are given opportunities.
People on the outside don’t know about it. So it’s more important about what’s happening within our team, that’s important for me.”
Sharma, who himself became India’s regular in white-ball cricket in 2013 – six years after his international debut – empathised with Kohli for the dip in form, asserting that the quality doesn’t diminish despite the poor returns.
“Also, if you are talking about form, it goes up and down for everyone. The quality of the player doesn’t go bad. We should always keep in mind when such comments are passed around. We’re backing that quality.”
”It’s happened with me, it’s happened with XYZ. There’s nothing new. When a player has done well so consistently, then 1-2 bad series, it [his contribution] shouldn’t be forgotten.
It might take time for some to understand. I’ll request those on the outside, yes you have all the right to talk about it, but for us, it doesn’t matter a lot.”
Rohit added.
India showcased a refreshing brand of cricket, playing with great positivity and freedom, especially on the batting front. Rohit shed further light on the newly-adopted formula.
“We, as a team, want to play in a certain way and every player needs to buy into that thought process otherwise, you know, it’s not gonna happen for you.”
“Some days, it might just come off, some days it might not. But we don’t want to be afraid of going and taking that extra risk. It’s everyone’s thought process and everyone is quite comfortable with that idea as well. That’s the kind of direction the team is willing to move.”
he stated.
The skipper was pleased with the players showcasing a clear mindset in their approach of playing a brave brand of cricket.
The two teams will now face-off in a three-match ODI series, with the first game to be played at The Oval on July 12.
