Amidst the growing desire to bring Virat Kohli back into the Indian Test team, a former Indian star has ordered the BCCI to bring both the legendary stars into the Test team as this will not only restore India’s class and stability but will also have an impact on world cricket.
Two legends of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have retired from Test and T20 cricket and now represent India only in ODIs. Despite limited cricket action, both these batsmen have continued to show their dominance in the game.
India, on the other hand, have struggled to play competitive Test cricket without two experienced cricketers. Therefore, recently fans as well as former star cricketers have demanded to take back their retirement and include both Virat Kohli or Rohit-Virat in the Test team.
Mohammad Kaif said that there is no need for any discussion on the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif reacted to the reports when he claimed a review meeting will be held in which the fate of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with the Indian team will be decided. Kaif admitted that both the batsmen are showing excellent form and hence there is no need for any discussion.
“I hope they will come to some sense and in whatever review meeting they will ask if both of them can come back in Tests. What do you have to discuss about the future? Both are scoring centuries. Get them back in Tests because you are losing badly.”
“You need to include seniors in the team. Of course, I don’t think both of them will change their decision. BCCI may think that what’s done is done, but can these two come back? Think about it. Not about wanting to go with new people for the World Cup. Both of them deserve to be there,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“The South African coach would not have made such a bad statement” – Mohammad Kaif
During the second Test in Guwahati, when South Africa was already leading the series 1–0, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad had the courage to comment that he wanted the hosts to concede defeat.
Mohammad Kaif mentions that this is apparently due to the absence of senior cricketers in the team; If Kohli and Rohit were in the team, the coach would never have had the courage to make such a claim.
He said, “It was clear that if Virat and Rohit were still playing Tests, the South African coach would not have made the objectionable statement. Their presence on the field is enough. When they came back in ODIs, see how much energy there was on the field.”
Kaif said, “Keep the runs aside, but the energy they bring to the entire team; these two playing only one format is a loss for the youngsters, because there is a lot to learn. Their coach was confident that they would beat us, that’s why he made such a statement. Had these two been there, he would not have had the courage.”
Since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the veteran players who handle the Indian innings on most of the occasions and lay the foundation, Mohammad Kaif feels that India is not able to win the 2027 World Cup without these two veteran cricketers.
He said, “We all have understood that this Indian team cannot win the 2027 World Cup without Rohit and Virat. Take it in writing. We are talking about it, the fans are telling us this. It is not a secret. We would have been wiped out in the Australia ODI, but because of these two, we won a match. They saved us there and they saved us here too. What did the youth do here? It was a good batting wicket, right? You needed experience here too.”
Kaif said that what differentiates players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is the art of taking the fight and then building confidence and then taking advantage of it, something that both the batsmen have done since the Australia series.
“Kohli was not in good form in Australia. Then he took time in the last ODI. He does that. A big player doesn’t play in the same rhythm all the time. Even Rohit took time there in the second ODI, but when he got a century in the third, he played with pace. Virat did the same. Once he scored runs in Australia, the confidence came and you saw a fast and aggressive innings here.”
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