There is a constant question surrounding Indian cricket after the Test series between India and New Zealand is over. The question is about the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had a poor Test series against New Zealand as they suffered the consequences of a shocking clean sheet at home. However, former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik feels that this is not the time to ask these players for a stipend.
Instead, Dinesh Karthik backed them by saying that one bad series doesn’t make them a bad cricketer. During the conversation, Karthik also admitted that Indian batsmen lack the ability to play spin unlike their predecessors.
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Dinesh Karthik breaks the silence on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement
During a poll segment on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were asked whether they should retire permanently from Test cricket. But the former India wicketkeeper feels that one bad series is not enough to start thinking about their retirement.
However, he has given Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli time for ten more Tests and feels there will be calls for their retirement if they fail in the next 10 Test matches.
“What’s the rush boss? One bad series and heads are calling. I don’t think so. I think if they don’t do well in the next 10 Test matches then we’ll come back to that question and then, given it’s going to be another domestic season, I don’t think anybody no need to group anywhere,” said Dinesh Karthik.
Rohit Sharma scored 91 runs in three Tests at an average of 15.16 in the Test series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli scored 93 runs at an average of 15.50. Both of them registered just one fifty in six innings.
Dinesh Karthik admitted India’s “lack of ability to play spin”.
India’s game against spin bowling has been another major concern of late. All were at sea against New Zealand’s spinners as they struggled against them in familiar conditions.
Dinesh Karthik was quick to admit this weakness and claimed that India cannot play spin. Karthik further admitted that the batsmen’s defensive game has been badly affected due to the increase in white ball games and hence the reason why the Indian batsmen are finding it difficult to play the opposition spinners.
“Our bowling was not up to par. We didn’t have a great run of spinners, especially the experienced ones. Batting, we definitely don’t have the ability to play spin,” felt Karthik.
“Defensive play all over the world has definitely gone down due to white-ball formats and that goes without saying, but the Indian players have struggled to cope with the spin,” he said.
New Zealand spinners demolish India’s batting
New Zealand’s spinners were all over India throughout the series, barring the first Test in which the Mariners ruled the roost. Mitchell Santner proved to be a match-winner with 13 wickets in the second Test in Pune.
In the third Test in Mumbai, Ajaz Patel was outstanding and took 11 wickets in the match. He won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant performance. Apart from these two spinners, off-spinning all-rounder Glenn Phillips also provided significant achievements.
Apart from Rishabh Pant, no Indian batsman looked comfortable at the crease throughout the series. Pant also emerged as the highest run-getter of the series with 261 runs in three Tests at an average of 43.50.
