Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has opined that it will be wrong to judge Rohit Sharma on the basis of his performance just in the IND vs AUS ODI series. The Hitman was replaced with Shubman Gill as the captain just before the series and will reportedly be considered for selection in the future purely based on merit. Kaif pointed out that Rohit was different compared to other cricketers while also stating that there was a reason for the selectors to lose their trust on him.
‘Difference between Rohit and Kohli…’
In a video on his YouTube channel, Kaif explained that Rohit wasn’t a player who scored consistently but was rather a batter who performed in big matches. He pointed out that while Virat brings consistency to the side, Sharma chipped in with big match knocks and noted that thereby it would be difficult for the selectors to judge him based on his performances in the IND vs AUS ODI series. The three-match tour will mark the return of the duo to international cricket for the first time since Champions Trophy 2025.He appealed to the selectors to not judge the duo simply based on two or three innings.
“Rohit is not captaining, and the way he has been playing over the years, scoring 20 to 30, but when a big match comes, he scores 80, a match-winning knock, that’s how his career has gone. He never scores consistently. The difference between him and Kohli in their numbers is that Kohli brings consistency, while Rohit brings match-winning innings and knocks. It will be difficult for the selectors,” Kaif said.
Virat Kohli unwanted?
Speaking about Kohli’s retirement from Tests, Kaif claimed that there were two reasons behind the move – his weakness in facing outside the off stump delivery and that there were people within the team who didn’t want him any longer. He said the pressure of the aforementioned reasons along with lack of support from the coaches and the team management had forced him to take a call on his red-ball career as he no longer felt that he could be ensured of a place in the 15-man squad, let alone the playing XI.
“Virat Kohli was struggling. There were two reasons behind his retirement. First, he wasn’t able to score runs as his weakness outside the off-stump was getting exposed, and every bowler was targeting him there. Second, he wanted to keep playing, he even wanted to go on the England tour, but certain things happened within the team that made him feel like many people didn’t want him there anymore,” said Kaif
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