England bowler gives no-nonsense verdict on struggling Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma: “Got through tough times…”
England player Tymal Mills has opened up about the struggles of Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the upcoming white-ball series between the two teams. Tymal Mills is confident that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will bounce back after their recent struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Virat and Rohit came under heavy criticism for their poor performances in India’s 1-3 loss to Australia. With sharp reactions from pundits, both players will face significant pressure ahead of the upcoming series against England as they prepare for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
They’ve been through tough times before and come out the other side – Tymal Mills
Tymal Mills admitted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have gone through tough times and have managed to bounce back, adding that they will find their form again. However, he hoped that would not happen against England. Mills also mentioned that he wouldn’t be surprised if they start scoring again soon.
“They’ve been through tough times before and they’ve come out the other side, and they’ll know what they need to do to come out the other side (again). Hopefully, not too much against England, but you won’t be surprised to see them both score again “, he said in an interview with the Times of India.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s recent struggles in Test cricket
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s struggle with the bat contributed significantly to India’s defeat in Australia. Rohit managed just 31 runs in three Tests and five innings, at a poor average of 6.20, and his highest score was just 10. As captain, Rohit led the team in three Tests, but India lost two of them.
Kohli scored an unbeaten century in the first Test, but managed just 90 runs in the next four Tests, finishing with 190 runs at an average of 23.75. His repeated dismissals with outside deliveries led to criticism.
The Indian captain ended 2024 with 619 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 24.76, with two centuries, both against England. Kohli, meanwhile, has scored 417 runs at an average of 24.52 from 19 innings in 2024.
That’s because they’re two of the greatest players to ever play – Tymal Mills
Tymal Mills said the successful careers of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were no fluke. He stated that their reputation for scoring consistently is a testament to their skill and determination. Mills believes their experience allows them to handle the good and bad patches of their careers.
“You don’t get the reputation of scoring the amount of runs these guys (Virat and Rohit) have scored in their careers just because of luck. It’s because they’re two of the best players ever to play (the sport). They’ll handle the ups and downs better than anyone else and will obviously have a lot of faith in their abilities,” added Mills.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to return to action in India’s three-match ODI series against England in February. After the series against England, India have no more ODIs scheduled before the Champions Trophy.
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