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Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad were Team India's designated openers in the five-match T20I series against South Africa at home. The duo is expected to open the innings for India in the two matches against Ireland as well. But Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad would only be warming the bench once regular skipper Rohit Sharma and vice-captain KL Rahul are back in the side despite their recent success against the Proteas. While Ishan Kishan made two half-centuries, Ruturaj Gaikwad scored one against the Temba Bavuma-led team. Besides, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, former India captain Virat Kohli and Mumbai Indians (MI) dasher Suryakumar Yadav will also return to the Indian T20I squad. The trio of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli was among the most feared in the shortest format but have struggled in recent times. Since the last T20 World Cup in the UAE in November 2021, Rohit, Rahul, and Kohli have rarely featured in the Indian team together. While KL Rahul enjoyed a good run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli recorded their worst ever season in the competition. Though their places in India's T20 set-up are not under threat as of right now, former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim has backed the selectors to have tough conversations with them if their performance in the shortest version isn't up to the mark. Of late, the strike rates of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul have sparked criticism from fans and the experts alike and that is one area these three have to work on. Saba Karim has also called on the Indian selectors to have a tough view on the matter and ask Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul to make changes in their batting as per the needs of the format.
Article Continues Below“A tough call for the selectors. At this stage, I'm sure all three of them (Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul) will walk into the XI,” Saba Karim said in a media interaction organized by Sony Sports.
“If such criticism is being leveled at them, it is up to them to find a solution so that they emerge in a much better manner. And if it's not happening then the team management or selectors need to have hard conversations with the individuals involved because there is stiff competition coming through. The players whom you have named enough experience to make the required changes in their batting so that it is beneficial for the national side. I'm sure they understand the needs of modern T20 batting,” he added.
Earlier, the legendary Kapil Dev had not minced his words as he tore apart Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for taking a break after the IPL. What’s more, Kapil Dev also warned Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli if they continued to bat as they did in the IPL, the pair could even be dropped from the Indian cricket team.
“It’s hard to know today who has been rested or asked to be rested. Only selectors will know about this,” Kapil said on the YouTube channel UnCut.
“The player (Rohit) is brilliant, no question about that. But if you don’t score a fifty in 14 matches, questions will be raised, be it Gary Sobers, Don Bradman, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar or Viv Richards. Only Rohit can answer that what’s happening. Is it too much (cricket) or has he stopped enjoying it?”
“Players like Rohit and Virat (Kohli) should enjoy the game. How they feel is very important (for their performances),” Kapil Dev added.
“You have to score runs (to get back in form). You cannot go too far based on reputation alone. Eventually, the opportunities will get dried up. How many chances would you need after 14 games? Can’t understand why they’re rested. If dropped, where they will get a chance to play then? It’s quite difficult to see how they play now,” Kapil Dev further said.
“What I feel is that these players need to correct their thinking. I would be happy if they prove me wrong. If you aren’t scoring runs, then there’s a problem somewhere. Either there’s too much cricket or too less. We only see one thing – how you perform. If performance has dropped, then hard to stop people from talking. It’s not possible. Your performance and bat should speak. Rest doesn’t matter,” the 1983 World Cup-winning India captain pointed out.
“I haven’t played cricket as much as Virat Kohli. But sometimes you may not have played enough cricket but you can look to figure things out. Either that, or we just cannot criticize such great players. We have played cricket and we understand the game and after that, they have to improve their thought process, not ours. If you prove us wrong, we will like it. If you don’t score runs, we feel there is some fault. We just see one thing and that’s your performance. And if the performance is not there, don’t expect people to stay quiet. Your bat and your performance should speak, nothing else,” Kapil Dev opined.
“He (Kohli) is like a hero to us. We used to think if there would come a player who we can compare to Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, and Sachin Tendulkar. We never thought like that. Then he (Kohli) emerged onto the scene. Now, the comparison is gone (for the past two years). He will have to address his cricket mentally,” he summed up.
