Indian captain Rohit Sharma has not been able to get too much attention from the Australian media in the lead-up to the five-match Test series. Earlier this week, Virat Kohli dominated the Australian media as his pictures emerged on the front pages of several Australian newspapers.
Retired India batter Aakash Chopra has shared his opinion on why there is such massive hype surrounding Virat Kohli ahead of the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy and though enjoying a stellar record Rohit Sharma lacks the same. Aakash reckons the hype is because of Kohli’s excellent Test performances on Australian soil in the past.
Virat Kohli may have been struggling in Test cricket lately, but his aura hasn’t dripped a bit. In the lead-up to the blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, Virat Kohli’s face is dominating the front pages of Australian newspapers. The buzz surrounding Virat Kohli ahead of the highly-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy has taken many by surprise. Usually, the captain of the team remains on the posters and gets the maximum attention before the start of a series let alone such a crucial one like this.
Australian media acting like Virat Kohli fanboys
Unsurprisingly, the Australian media’s coverage has taken many by surprise. And with the coverage becoming the talk of the town, former India opener Aakash Chopra has also shared his views on the same.
Aakash Chopra dismissed suggestions that the buzz surrounding Virat Kohli is because of PR machinery and attributed it to the former India skipper’s stunning performances in Australia.
“Test is the format if you want to earn respect in Australia and England. No matter how well you do in white-ball cricket, you won’t get that much respect. However, they remember you if you have dominated them with the bat or jolted them with the ball (in Tests). You will be written beautifully in the annals of history,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“Is it any PR machinery that is in overdrive? Absolutely not. We were told from our childhood that Australia will be in your face. You don’t play with the XI but the entire nation. They are at you relentlessly. However, if you go there and conquer those grounds and this team, if you decimate or dominate them, they become your fans,” added the former cricketer-turned-commentator.
Virat Kohli has indeed enjoyed a stellar run in Tests on Australian soil. In 25 innings in Australia, Kohli has scored 1352 runs at an average of 54.08 with the help of six centuries. In the 2018-19 season, Virat Kohli also became the first Indian captain to win a Test series in Australia.
Comparing Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, Aakash Chopra suggested that the current Indian skipper has yet to earn a similar status in Australia. Aakash acknowledged that Rohit Sharma had delivered several match-winning performances against the Aussies in white-ball cricket.
Aakash Chopra shares his views on Rohit Sharma
Speaking further, Aakash Chopra also shared his views on Rohit Sharma’s performance against Australia. The former cricketer said that while Rohit ‘is an absolute GOAT’ against Australia in white-ball cricket, he is yet to prove himself against them in the longest format of the game.
However, he would have to replicate a similar impact in red-ball cricket to get this sort of respect.
“Virat Kohli is not demanding, he is commanding this respect. If you see the white-ball format, Rohit Sharma is an absolute GOAT when it comes to playing against Australia. However, Rohit has never played an entire Test series in Australia. He might not play the entire series this time as well. Rohit Sharma has not yet earned that status,” Aakash said.
Virat Kohli has put up several match-winning performances in Test cricket when playing on Australian soil. In the 25 Test innings he has played in Australia, Virat Kohli has smashed six centuries. He has amassed 1352 runs at an average of 54.08. Rohit Sharma has only featured in 14 Test innings in Australia. He has aggregated 408 runs with no centuries. The Indian skipper has a 31.38 average on Australian soil.
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have struggled with consistency in Test cricket recently. The veteran duo were overshadowed by strong performances from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant in the India-Bangladesh series that concluded on October 1.
Despite Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s individual shortcomings, India escaped with a comfortable 2-0 series victory at home. The duo failed to deliver against New Zealand as India were whitewashed 0-3 at home. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will now be looking to redeem themselves in the upcoming five-match Test series in Australia.
The opening game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The match will commence on November 22 and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma after being blessed with a baby boy is speculated to be the part of the 1st test vs Australia.