Gautam Gambhir breaks SILENCE on the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Test team

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have struggled to perform with the bat in Test cricket for quite a while, raising concerns.

Gautam Gambhir breaks SILENCE on the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Test team

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir (Via X)

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma performed poorly in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 in Australia. They have been struggling with the bat in the longest format for quite some time. India lost the series 3-1, and both stars have been facing a lot of criticism for their poor performances. Many are of the opinion that both of them should not be included in the Test team going forward.

Kohli failed to score a single half-century apart from the century that he scored in the second innings of the first Test match. He continued to get dismissed in the same way by fishing at deliveries outside the off stump. Sharma, meanwhile, had no rhythm with the bat and also dropped himself from the final Test in Sydney.

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After the final match in Sydney, head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about the future of both of these players in Test cricket. Gambhir said he did not have any idea about the future but praised their hunger, passion, and mental toughness. He added that the decision is up to them, and the team management knows that they will make decisions based on the betterment of the team.

I can’t talk about the future of any player. It’s up to them as well. What I can say is that they still have the hunger, they still have the passion, they are tough people. And hopefully they can continue to take it and bring it forward. But ultimately, as we all know, whatever they plan, they will plan for the best.

Gautam Gambhir said at the press conference
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Gautam Gambhir heaped praise on Rohit Sharma for excluding himself from the final Test match in Syndey

Sharma missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his baby and then stepped down from the final Test match owing to his poor form with the bat. Moreover, India had lost five out of the last six Test matches under the captaincy of Sharma. Gambhir hit out at the reports in the media that criticised that Sharma had been dropped from the final Test. The head coach reiterated that the Indian leader took the decision for the betterment of his national team.

Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir (Via X)

I would like to say that so many reports have been written and so many things have been said. At least, we can be a little more sensible in that regard. If a captain, not even a captain, if a leader has taken this decision ahead of his team, then I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.

Guatam Gambhir said.

India have meanwhile been knocked off the World Test Championship, and Australia have qualified for the final to face off against South Africa. India’s next Test series assignment will be the five-match Test series in England in 2025.