Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta has ignited a controversial debate over the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Indian cricket team. Dasgupta suggested that comparing the two Indian cricket icons was not fair, saying that their careers and roles should be evaluated separately.
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ended their T20I careers on a high after winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June last year in the USA and the Caribbean. But questions are now being raised about their places in the Indian Test team after their last disastrous season with the bat.
Deep Dasgupta sparks a new debate on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s India future with a bold take
Test season 2024/25. it would surely be the worst for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The former Indian captain managed just 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.47, including a century, while Rohit’s form has been even more alarming with the bat in Test cricket.
The Indian captain scored just 164 runs in 15 innings, at an average of just 10.93 with a solitary half-century. At 37, Rohit’s age and declining results have raised questions about his role in the Test team, especially as he will turn 40 during the next Test World Cup cycle.
The recent performance of India’s batting icons on the Australian tour has fueled much debate about their future in Tests and even now the BCCI and the selectors are reportedly mulling over whether to decide on their future with the team after the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Let’s not slaughter Rohit and Virat together: Deep Dasgupta calls on BCCI, selectors
Amid intense scrutiny over their future in India, Deep Dasgupta has given five months to Rohit Sharma but is opposed to the idea of evaluating Virat Kohli on the same parameters. The former Indian wicketkeeper-batter emphasized that Virat and Rohit are different players, just like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, so the selectors have to judge the duo differently.
Deep Dasgupta said on Star Sports, “Let’s not lump Rohit and Virat together. Just like in the previous generation of Indian cricket, where Sachin (Tendulkar) and Rahul (Dravid) were different, you have to evaluate each player individually.”
With the next five months packed with white-ball matches and IPL 2025, the pressure is mounting on Rohit Sharma to deliver and Dasgupta believes his performances in that period will play a key role in determining his future in the Indian cricket team.
Deep Dasgupta predicts that the next 5 months will be very crucial for Rohit Sharma
Further, the cricket expert pointed out that Rohit’s fitness, form in first-class cricket and performance in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will also be key factors that the national selectors will consider before deciding.
Dasgupta signed off saying, “For Rohit, the next five months of predominantly white-ball international cricket and the IPL will be crucial. The weight of his performances in these formats will speak about it. Apart from this, factors like his first-class cricket form, fitness level and Champions Trophy performance will also be important. The final decision is on the menu.”
Namely, Kohli and Rohit are currently preparing for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England at home. This series would be crucial for both to prove their critics wrong.
