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Former player’s bold call: How legitimate is comment on dropping senior stars after Boxing Day Test loss?

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2 years ago

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Rohit viart captaincy

Former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna has voiced strong criticism of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following India’s crushing 184-run defeat to Australia in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Khanna has urged the team management and selectors to bench the underperforming stars, emphasizing the need for bold decisions to rejuvenate the team.

Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth, has struggled for runs throughout the series. In five innings across three Tests, the Indian captain has managed only 31 runs. His decision to shuffle between middle-order and top-order positions has also failed to yield results.

Similarly, Virat Kohli’s inconsistency remains a concern. Despite a century in the opening Test in Perth, Kohli has been unable to replicate the performance, scoring just 7, 11, 3, 36, and 5 in subsequent innings. His repeated struggles outside the off-stump have added to India’s woes, even as he showed glimpses of his form in the Boxing Day Test.

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are totally out of form. When your key players are not scoring, it becomes difficult to win matches,” Khanna told IANS. “Australia played better cricket and used conditions to their advantage. Meanwhile, our younger players like (Nitish Kumar) Reddy and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal are stepping up, and it’s time to trust them more.”

A call for bold decisions

Khanna urged the selectors and team management to have honest discussions with the senior players about their form and future. “You need the guts to have a one-to-one conversation with Rohit and Virat, asking them to make way for others. Senior players are expected to lead with performances, but they have been consistently falling short. Sometimes, tough decisions are needed to get the desired results,” he added.

The former cricketer also hinted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might allow the players to announce their decisions regarding retirement, but he stressed that “the writing is on the wall” for both stars.

A year of decline

Khanna pointed out that 2024 has been a particularly poor year for both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Test cricket, with both averaging under 25. Despite their legendary status, their performances over the last 40-45 innings have not met expectations, raising concerns about their future in the longest format of the game.

“A lot of focus is often placed on players like Rishabh Pant for their aggressive style, but the real issue is the inconsistency of senior batters like Rohit and Kohli,” he remarked.

Series finale at Sydney

With Australia leading the five-match series 2-1, the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on January 3 will be pivotal. The pressure remains high on India’s senior players to deliver, but Khanna’s remarks underline growing impatience among cricketing circles.

As the debate over their form intensifies, the Sydney Test could potentially mark a turning point in the careers of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Whether they silence their critics or pave the way for the next generation remains to be seen.

The comment on dropping senior stars after the Boxing Day debacle raises a valid point, given the ongoing struggles of key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both have been out of form, with low scores in recent matches, and their inability to contribute consistently has been a concern for Team India. 

While it’s crucial to recognize their past achievements and leadership roles, the current form of these players impacts the team’s performance. The question of whether it’s legitimate to bench them stems from the need for a fresh approach and the desire for younger players to step up. 

However, making such a bold call requires careful consideration of the long-term strategy for the team. It’s not just about the present match but also about building a strong squad for future challenges, making this comment a legitimate topic for discussion.

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Gautam Gambhir faces backlash after India’s shock T20 series defeat against Ireland

Gautam Gambhir faced criticism from Iceland Cricket and Sanjay Manjrekar after India suffered a shock 0-2 T20 series defeat against Ireland.

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1 week ago

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June 29, 2026

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Gautam Gambhir

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under scrutiny following India’s surprising 0-2 defeat in the two-match T20I series against Ireland, with criticism emerging from both former cricketers and Iceland Cricket.

India suffered a 34-run defeat in the opening T20I before Ireland completed a historic series sweep by winning the second match as well. The result marked one of India’s most unexpected bilateral T20 series losses in recent years.

Soon after the series concluded, Iceland Cricket, known for its witty social media posts, took a swipe at Gambhir. In a post on social media, the account sarcastically remarked on Gambhir’s coaching methods following India’s disappointing performance. The comments quickly gained traction among cricket fans online.

Former India batter and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar also questioned some of the decisions taken by the team management during the Ireland tour. Manjrekar had earlier expressed disappointment over teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not being included in the playing XI despite India’s struggles in the series. He termed the move as not being a “good cricketing call”.

The exclusion of Sooryavanshi became a major talking point during the series, particularly after India lost the first game. The 15-year-old remained on the bench for both matches despite widespread expectations of a possible debut.

The series defeat has intensified discussions around India’s team selection and tactical approach under Gambhir, with fans and experts debating the decisions taken during the tour.

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut not certain as team balance takes precedence

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s much-anticipated India debut is not guaranteed, with team management prioritising balance and existing performers ahead of the Ireland T20Is.

Published

2 weeks ago

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June 26, 2026

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Vaibhav suryavanshi123

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has generated immense excitement ahead of India’s T20I series against Ireland, but a place in the playing XI is far from certain as team management weighs the importance of maintaining a settled combination.

The 15-year-old left-handed batter, who enjoyed a remarkable rise through domestic and franchise cricket, has been included in India’s T20I squad for the Ireland and England tours. However, fitting him into the starting XI presents a significant selection challenge.

Crowded top order creates selection headache

India already have several established opening options in the squad, including Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Bringing Sooryavanshi into the side would likely require dropping one of the current top-order batters, many of whom have already delivered strong performances for the national team.

Ahead of the Ireland series, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stressed that players who have been consistently performing should not be sidelined unfairly merely to accommodate new entrants. He added that competition for places is healthy and every player should wait for the appropriate opportunity.

The approach reflects head coach Gautam Gambhir’s emphasis on prioritising the team’s overall balance rather than making changes solely because of public demand or hype surrounding a player.

Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise continues

Despite uncertainty over his immediate debut, Sooryavanshi remains one of India’s brightest young prospects. The Bihar batter has impressed across age-group cricket, domestic competitions and the IPL, where his fearless strokeplay attracted widespread attention.

With India set to play a packed white-ball schedule, opportunities are expected to come for the youngster, even if he does not feature in the opening T20I against Ireland.

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Azmatullah Omarzai creates ODI six-hitting record during third match against India

Azmatullah Omarzai reached 50 ODI sixes in just 36 innings during the third ODI against India, joining Corey Anderson and Liam Livingstone on an elite list of power-hitters.

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2 weeks ago

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June 20, 2026

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Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai added another milestone to his growing international career by becoming one of the fastest batters to reach 50 sixes in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the third ODI against India national cricket team. Omarzai achieved the feat with two maximums in the match, entering an elite list of power-hitters in ODI cricket.

Omarzai and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stitched together a 105-run partnership to rebuild the innings after Afghanistan faced early setbacks. Omarzai’s innings came to an end after he played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s recovery.

Omarzai among fastest batters to 50 ODI sixes

With this achievement, Omarzai reached the 50-sixes mark in just 36 ODI innings. According to the record list, only Corey Anderson and Liam Livingstone got there faster, taking 32 and 34 innings respectively. Omarzai is now the joint third-fastest batter to reach 50 ODI sixes, sharing the position with Muhammad Waseem after both achieved the milestone in 36 innings.

Fastest to 50 ODI sixes (by innings):

  • Corey Anderson – 32 innings
  • Liam Livingstone – 34 innings
  • Azmatullah Omarzai – 36 innings
  • Muhammad Waseem – 36 innings
  • Shimron Hetmyer – 38 innings
  • Harry Brook – 38 innings

Notably, no Indian batter features among the top five fastest players to reach 50 ODI sixes.

Equals Shahidi’s record against India

Omarzai’s half-century also helped him match captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s record for the most ODI fifties by an Afghanistan batter against India. Both players now have two ODI half-centuries against the Indian team.

The latest achievement further highlights Omarzai’s importance to Afghanistan’s ODI setup, where he has established himself as one of the team’s most impactful all-rounders in recent years.

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