Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to perform in the first ODI match. They will face off again in the second ODI on Thursday at the Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, Cardiff. Before the match, former India opener Aakash Chopra has shared the reason for the failure of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the first game.
The cricketer turned commentator believes that Virat and Rohit do not play much cricket currently, as they only play in ODI cricket, and limited overs games remain a problem for these two cricket legends. India won the game by 6 wickets as Rohit scored 11 runs in 21 balls and Virat Kohli scored just 5 runs.
Aakash Chopra told problems for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra highlighted that there will be a gap between the ODI series, and the entire series will consist of three matches, which means there will be a lack of game time for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who only play the 50-over format.
He said, “Rohit and Kohli, it will always be a problem for them because an ODI series is usually three matches. There is a series, then nothing for two months, then another series and then nothing for two months. Virat did not even play against Afghanistan. Rohit still played there.”
Virat Kohli is 37 and Rohit is 39, this could be their last tour of England, and fans will want them to score runs in the upcoming game and the third and final ODI as well.
“So when will Virat Kohli’s next ODI series come? I think September. So that’s a big difference, and it keeps coming up again and again. So you want to score runs. He doesn’t usually fail in the same match. He did that in the last match, but despite that, he has great figures against England. You would want him to score both runs because it could be his last tour of England.”
Aakash Chopra also pointed out that Rohit Sharma has seven centuries in England and is among the top ODI century-scorers on English soil, highlighting that he is the only Indian opener in the list. Rohit Sharma’s career as an opening batsman started in the 2013 Champions Trophy in England and he loves playing in this country.
“This will be his first win”: Aakash Chopra backs Shubman Gill to win second ODI and series
The former opener also revealed that Shubman Gill can win the series if India wins the second game, and this could be a big boost as he will be winning his first series against a top opponent and that too away from home.
He said, “Shubman Gill drew the series against England in his first assignment (as captain). He scored more than 700 runs, and his performance was excellent. He has returned to face England once again. If he wins the series here, it will be his first win against top teams. He has won against Afghanistan, but lost against Australia and New Zealand as a captain.”
Aakash Chopra hints towards Shubman Gill vs Joe Root fight
He said that in the second game, Shubman Gill and Joe Root will once again score runs as they have been in sensational form in recent times. In the first game, Gill scored 80 and was retired, while Root remained unbeaten on 76*.
“What’s even better is the way his bat is speaking. In fact, it’s almost like Shubman Gill versus Joe Root. If we look at this year’s ODI figures, you would say Shubman Gill is speaking to the sky, and if you look at the figures of the last two years, Joe Root averages 70. It is absolutely fantastic,” Chopra said.
