Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta has said that all players, especially Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, will have to get going from the first match of a series and they can’t take a few games to get into the groove, because that will impede the team’s progress.
Despite their staggering numbers, Rohit and Kohli’s participation in the 2027 World Cup remains uncertain. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have stayed non-committal, even as the duo have expressed their desire to make the tournament their international swansong.
In the recent ODI series against England, which India lost 2-1, Rohit signed off with a hundred in the decider. His 34th ODI century came amidst speculation that the Lord’s clash could be his final international
appearance.
Kohli, meanwhile, chipped in with two half-centuries in the series, though both veterans failed in the opening ODI.
“That has to be a conversation with everyone, not just them (Kohli and Rohit), that they have to start the series well and hit the ground running. That is a challenge. You cannot take one or two games to get into the groove,” Dasgupta said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“But that is where the support staff comes in and has conversations with the players by creating an environment to get the best out of everyone. There is no conversation needed with them about their places in the team,” Dasgupta said.
“Four years back, it was not like they had to be reminded before every series that they would be in the team. They knew they would be in the team based on their performances,” Dasgupta added.
Ever since Rohit and Kohli retired from Tests last year, their ODI futures have remained a topic of debate. Ahead of the Lord’s ODI against England, reports suggested that selectors were looking beyond Rohit for the 2027 World Cup and considering Yashasvi Jaiswal as a potential replacement.
