Ravi Shastri, former head coach of India, has suggested that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to domestic cricket to regain their form ahead of India’s upcoming tour of England. This advice follows India’s 3-1 series loss in Australia, with both players struggling in the series. Rohit opted out of the final Test due to poor form, and while Kohli started with a century, his performances later declined as he was dismissed in similar ways throughout the series.
Shastri’s recommendation aligns with comments from current head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has encouraged players to make themselves available for domestic cricket if they are committed to red-ball cricket. Shastri emphasized the importance of both fitness and current form, stating that while experience is crucial, form and fitness cannot be ignored. He expressed his intention to closely follow upcoming one-day cricket and the Champions Trophy, and believes that if there is a gap in the schedule, Kohli and Rohit should consider playing some domestic cricket to prepare for Test matches.
However, the packed cricket calendar presents a challenge, leaving very little room for them to feature in domestic cricket. With the white-ball season continuing into January and the focus shifting to Ranji Trophy afterward, Kohli and Rohit may only have a slim chance to play one domestic game. Another option would be participating in the county championships, but this is unlikely due to their commitments in the IPL.
Meanwhile, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting expressed sympathy for Kohli’s struggles, attributing them to a mental block rather than a lack of skill. Ponting suggested that a break from the game, similar to the one Kohli took before his century drought ended, could help him regain his love for the game and his form.
Both Shastri and Ponting acknowledge Kohli’s skill and talent, but they agree that a mental reset or some time away could be necessary for the batter to rediscover his best form.
