Former Pakistan National Cricket Team player Basit Ali has jumped in defense of the India National Cricket Team superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli amid heavy criticism. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been getting slammed left, right, and center by fans and experts following India’s Test series disaster against New Zealand, but Basit Ali hasn’t joined the trend, instead, he has come out in support of the senior cricketers.
According to Basit Ali, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have consistently performed at an elite level for India. He pointed out that fans’ memories seem to be short, recalling a felicitation ceremony held for the two stars only a few months ago. Basit Ali questioned why, at that time, critics hadn’t raised concerns about their form or suggested that they retire, only to turn harshly against them after a single series defeat.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed miserably in the home Test season
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli skipped the Duleep Trophy ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh, despite knowing the fact that the competition would have given them an ideal preparation for the red-ball season.
The unpreparedness of the duo was seen in the matches against the Tigers as they failed to get going. In two Tests, Rohit Sharma scored just 42 runs at an average of 10.50 while Virat Kohli scored 99 runs at an average of 33.00.
As the action moved towards the Test series against New Zealand, many expected things to change, but they didn’t, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli kept struggling. In six innings against the Kiwis, Rohit Sharma scored 91 runs at an average of 15.16 and a best of 52 while Virat Kohli scored 93 runs at an average of 15.50 and a best of 70.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Basit went all out to defend Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He slammed the critics and said that they shouldn’t make Rohit Sharma and Kohli zeroes from heroes after one Test series defeat.
Basit Ali slams Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s critics using bizarre ‘Cancer’ analogy after 3-0 series whitewash vs NZ
Former Pakistani cricketer Basti Ali has urged Indian fans to support senior batter Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma amid poor form. He suggested that while criticizing the two champion players, people should not forget their significant contribution to Indian cricket.
Giving the analogy of how Disprin cannot cure cancer, he opined that India’s supporters should not make their players zeros from heroes after an odd defeat. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Basit said
“Just two or three months ago there was a felicitation ceremony on this same ground in Mumbai. Why didn’t you say at that time that now they should retire from all three formats? Cancer cannot be treated with Disprin, you need chemotherapy for that. You people make them zero on a day, but you forget the performances they have given in the past. You people were winning. Ask me, our team had been losing to America, Ireland, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.”
Basit noted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have faced the wrath of fans after New Zealand’s 3-0 whitewash in the recently concluded home Test series. He, however, highlighted how both the players have performed admirably in the recent past, adding :
“You lost 3-0, that’s why you people are angry. Please use a little bit of your mind. This is the same Rohit Sharma who scored runs against England in the 2023 ODI World Cup and in the Test series. This is the same Virat Kohli who scored 186 in Ahmedabad. Now when he is not getting runs, you guys are speaking. He has seen such a time before as well.”
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggled to get going in the three-match Test series against New Zealand, scoring 93 and 91 runs, respectively, from six innings each.
“Babar Azam got good pitches, Virat Kohli didn’t” – Basit Ali
Basit Ali also spoke about how Virat Kohli didn’t have the luxury of playing on batting-friendly pitches like Pakistan’s Babar Azam. He mentioned that the former India skipper had to bat on rank turners, where it was difficult to score runs.
The cricketer-turned-expert remarked in the aforementioned video:
“Babar Azam got good pitches, Virat Kohli didn’t. He had to play on turning tracks. Who is instructing to make such pitches”
Kohli’s red-ball form has concerned several fans. The 36-year-old has not scored a Test century since July 2023. Despite the recent struggles, Virat Kohli can take solace from his overall Test record in Tests in Australia. The champion batter has scored 1,352 at an impressive average of 54.08, including six centuries in 13 Tests. The first test between India and Australia will start from November 22nd at the WACA stadium in Perth.