New Delhi, Jan 11 (NationPress) Indian top-order batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have faced a considerable amount of blame for India's 1-3 defeat in the recently concluded 2024/25 Border Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. Nonetheless, former South African cricket legend Jonty Rhodes has come to their defense, asserting that the fans have overlooked the difficult conditions Down Under due to India’s past triumphs in Australia.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Cricket is inherently subjective, and in today’s world, cricketers cannot escape public scrutiny, whether it comes from supporters or critics on social media and through journalism. It seems that everyone has become a cricket expert and players have learned to navigate that environment," Rhodes stated.
"Touring Australia is exceptionally challenging. Perhaps Indian fans have forgotten this because of India's success in their last two tours of Australia. However, it was not an easy feat. The team had some outstanding performances in previous tours that nearly turned things around. This time, the same did not occur, so to blame just two individuals is quite harsh," Rhodes told IANS.
Kohli started the series impressively, scoring a century in the second innings of the opening Test in Perth. However, his performance declined, and he concluded with 190 runs, having been dismissed eight times while chasing balls outside the off-stump. Conversely, Rohit, who missed the Perth Test due to the birth of his second child, managed only 31 runs in three Tests before deciding to rest for the fifth Test in Sydney.
The spotlight will be on both players as they prepare for the 2025 Champions Trophy scheduled for February. After much deliberation, the tournament will adopt a hybrid model, as India declined to travel to Pakistan. Rhodes chose not to delve into the internal politics but expressed satisfaction that a compromise was reached.
"Fortunately, I’m not involved in cricket politics. As a fan of the sport, I’m just pleased that India will be facing Pakistan in this Champions Trophy. Such a match is vital, and if it doesn’t happen, we all lose a lot as fans," he remarked.
Rhodes also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his participation in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue and the National Youth Festival. The former South African cricketer commended Modi's initiatives to establish a robust foundation for the future.
The event was held at Bharat Mandapam and brought together nearly 3,000 individuals from various sectors across the nation in a truly innovative experience.
"It has garnered public support because there is genuine backing from the government. It’s not just empty promises. When the PM commits to something, he follows through. The opportunity for the youth of India to engage directly with the head of government is a rarity globally," he added.
"This is a commendable initiative. The PM understands that achieving his vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 requires a solid foundation, and the youth are crucial to that future. Thus, he is starting at the right point," Rhodes concluded.
