Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons the upcoming three-match ODI series won’t decide Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s future. Chopra believes even if the two stalwarts fail to perform in the Australian conditions, it wouldn’t be fair to drop them from the ODI team.
There has been a lot of speculation regarding the veteran duo’s future but Chopra highlighted that the two players are white-ball legends as they have performed consistently over the last 15 years.
While Rohit has amassed 11,168 runs in 273 ODI matches at an impressive average of 48.77, Kohli has aggregated 14,181 runs in 302 ODI games at a stunning average of 57.88; thus, their records speak for themselves.
“One thing is clear – three matches won’t decide their future. They can’t even decide their present because they have such a huge fantastic legacy. Their body of work is massive. So how can you say that you can drop them if three matches don’t go good and keep them in the team if they do well in three matches?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“I am not going to be on that kind of boat or ship, and I won’t speculate or anticipate at all because it shouldn’t be done at all. Just think about it, we are talking about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. They are absolute white-ball legends,” he observed.
Meanwhile, the renowned commentator feels Rohit and Virat could struggle to get a big score in the first ODI on a bouncy Perth pitch, as they will play competitive cricket after a long time.
“I feel the start might not be good in Perth. It’s a big possibility because it is the Optus pitch, there is a lot of bounce, and both are coming out completely cold, and suddenly a ball might come where they get out. If it happens, so be it. Then Adelaide and Sydney will come,” he said.
“I want runs to be scored, but, god forbid, even if they aren’t, I don’t think there will be any immediate difference to their life. They will play the South Africa and New Zealand series as well, and if we are discussing this at that time as well, that two series have passed, and what would happen if they don’t score runs in the third as well, then I will entertain this question,” Chopra elaborated.
The first ODI between India and Australia will be played at Perth on Sunday.
