Melbourne: The trio of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli fell cheaply in a massive chase of 340 as India reached 33/3 in 26.1 overs on day five of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Former India Head Coach Ravi Shastri has backed Virat Kohli to continue playing Test cricket for “3 to 4 more years”.
However, he suggested that Rohit Sharma might need to take a call on his career at the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shastri was responding to discussions about the futures of the two veteran cricketers after they failed to deliver when the team needed them most in the final innings of the fourth Test in Melbourne on Monday, 30th December.
Rohit’s first attempt in playing an aggressive shot caused his downfall – in a bid to whip off Cummins through the leg-side, he got a leading edge and was caught by gully on the second attempt to dismiss the skipper on nine runs off 40 balls.
Familiar issues resurfaced for Virat Kohli as he chased a delivery slanted outside his off-stump by Mitchell Starc.
“No, I think Virat Kohli will play. Virat will play for some time, forget the way he got out today. I think he will play for 3 or 4 more years,” Ravi Shastri told the broadcaster, Star Sports.
“As far as Rohit is concerned, it’s a call. At the top of the order, his footwork isn’t the same. He is probably, at times, a little late in meeting the ball. So it’s his call at the end of the series.
“But, having said, this Australian team want it badly. The captain wants it badly. The determination in his eyes was evident even when he was batting yesterday. He was not going to give it away,” he added.
