Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali feels Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are in the same boat as Babar Azam. Rohit scored 91 runs in three Test matches against the Kiwis at an average of 15.17 whereas Virat Kohli could only score 93 runs in three Test matches at an average of 15.50.
On the other hand, Babar Azam was dropped in the last two Test matches against England after his poor return in the recent past.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube Channel, “Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are in the same situation as Babar Azam. Their form has deteriorated. We shall see who comes back to form first. I pray that Babar comes back to form quickly and Virat and Rohit score runs in Australia. Their confidence level is lower than Babar’s at this time because he is coming back from rest.”
Ali said Rohit isn’t in the best of form as he used his feet after he was put under pressure by the opposition bowlers.
“When Rohit Sharma was hit twice on the pad, he stepped out of his crease and hit a four. This means that his feet aren’t moving and the form is not good. Yes, he did get a boundary with that shot but it showed that his form is not good.”
On the other hand, Ali reckons head coach Gautam Gambhir failed to read the Mumbai pitch after India played with two fast bowlers in Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, but the latter hardly bowled.
“This pitch was not for two fast bowlers. Gautam Gambhir failed to read the pitch. What was the problem with adding an extra batter?”
India’s performance has come under the scanner as they were outplayed by the Kiwis. The Rohit Sharma-led team will need to win by 4-0 against Australia to qualify for the WTC Final.
