NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma continue to serve as the twin pillars of India's One Day International setup. Every time the national team steps onto the field in the fifty-over format, the spotlight inevitably falls on these two modern greats.
Intense Focus on Form and Future
With both players now exclusively active in ODIs for India, scrutiny around their current form, workload management, and long-term future has intensified significantly. This includes discussions about their potential participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Kohli's Dominant Run Continues
Virat Kohli has dominated cricket headlines in recent weeks. The run-machine recently climbed back to the number one spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time since July 2021. He has enjoyed a remarkable purple patch with five consecutive fifty-plus scores, including two centuries.
The thirty-seven-year-old batsman now stands second only to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time international runs list. His consistent performances have silenced critics and reaffirmed his status as one of cricket's premier batsmen.
Rohit's Recent Struggles
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has found himself under the scanner during the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Currently ranked third in the ICC ODI batting rankings, he has endured two modest outings so far. He scored twenty-six runs in Vadodara and twenty-four runs in Rajkot.
Despite these recent struggles, Rohit's broader ODI numbers remain reassuring. He struck a century against Australia in Sydney earlier in the season and has recorded three more fifties in his last eight ODI innings. Following the BCCI's directive, he also returned to domestic cricket, representing Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he scored a commanding one hundred fifty-five alongside a rare failure.
Coach Dismisses Concerns
India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has played down concerns about Rohit's form. The former Netherlands all-rounder attributed the lean returns more to match conditions and lack of recent cricket than any technical or tactical issue.
"Rohit, I thought tonight particularly, both innings was a real new-ball wicket. It didn't look easy to bat," ten Doeschate explained. "Over a short period of time, if you take the first ODI, he's not been as fluent as he has been and that's going to be a challenge for him, not playing cricket between series."
No Conscious Change in Approach
When asked whether Rohit had consciously altered his batting approach, ten Doeschate dismissed the idea completely. "I don't think it's a conscious approach. He's such a brutal player, but he's actually a touch player at the end of the day. He times the ball," the assistant coach elaborated.
"As soon as the wickets aren't very good, it's going to be difficult for him to look in fluent mode like he normally is."
Team-First Mindset
Ten Doeschate also stressed Rohit's team-first mindset during his assessment. "He's definitely not the sort of guy to play for himself. It's just a combination of the wickets being slightly difficult and maybe just being a little bit short on cricket leading into the series."
The contrasting fortunes of India's two batting stalwarts highlight the constant pressure and examination that comes with representing the national team at the highest level. While Kohli continues his record-breaking spree, Rohit faces the challenge of regaining his fluent touch against quality opposition.
