Following the series loss, former India cricketers namely Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan urged the duo of Rohit and Virat to play domestic cricket.

Amid all this, a member from the Indian team management has also stated that domestic cricket can certainly help players get into the rhythm needed to play Test cricket.

“Without game time in the middle, their game will stagnate… The switch from the red ball to the white ball is easy, but when it is the other way round, it is challenging. When you play Ranji games frequently, you will be in rhythm,” the team management member said according to a report by The Indian Express. 

While Rohit last featured in domestic cricket back in 2016, Virat was last seen on the circuit back in 2012. The duo haven’t featured for their state teams despite numerous reminders from former cricketers, so it will be interesting to see if they do end up changing their stance this time around.

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After dismal batting displays in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar series, former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has advised the duo to play domestic cricket.

Shastri stated that while retirement is in their own hands, they can revive their careers by going back to their roots.

“If there’s a gap for them (Kohli and Rohit), I think they should go back and play some domestic cricket and see how it is,” Shastri said in the ICC Review.

“When you play Test match cricket for that length of time, it’s important to play domestic cricket for two reasons: You’re abreast with the current generation (and) you can contribute to that younger generation with your experience,” Shastri added.

While Rohit last featured in domestic cricket back in 2016, Virat was last seen playing on the circuit back in 2012. Shastri also believes that playing domestic cricket will also help the duo in regaining their touch in playing spin as they will have the chance to play against many turners.

“More importantly, you get to play spin more than you will ever play. So if you see India as recorded, India on turning tracks is not the greatest. If you have quality spinners in the opposition, they can trouble you. And they have troubled India,” Shastri said.

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Attendance record for the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar series stood at 8,37,879 which is incredibly high. The figures left Ponting stunned and he said that it will be interesting to see the attendance for the Ashes which is set to be played next summer.

He added that if the numbers aren’t the same then the Border-Gavaskar trophy is undoubtedly bigger than the Ashes.

“I had a look at the numbers yesterday, it was something like 837,000 people came to watch the Test matches, which is unheard of here in Australia. So now that this series has happened, Australia have England coming out next summer so we’ll get a better idea then. If the numbers aren’t the same, then there’ll be no doubt that the (Border-Gavaskar) rivalry (is bigger), certainly from the fans’ point of view,” Ponting told ICC.

“There’s two separate parts to this: There’s what the fans want to see and the rivalry that they want to make of it, but it’s also how the players view the rivalry between the three teams now,” Ponting added.

Former India head coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri believes that spectators which attended the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar series, set the bar really high in the modern era.

“One stat stands out: 3,75,000 people coming through the gates in that Melbourne Test match, beating the record set 90 years ago of 3,50,000. (In) 1936/1937, when the ‘G’ could hold 120,000 people and when Bradman was playing. It just goes to show the sudden interest in the modern era. The bar has been raised. The bar has been raised big time,” Shastri said.

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Ravi has stated that Rohit should play free from the restrictions that have affected his game during his lean form. As he is not in his preferred form, rumours are rising regarding Rohit’s Test retirement in the past week.

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“If I was anywhere near Rohit Sharma, I’ll tell him, ‘Just go and smash it. Just go out there and have a blast. Just as it is when you’re trying to play the way you are at the moment, it’s not looking great. Go out there and take the attack to the opposition and then let’s see what happens,” Shastri said while speaking on the latest edition of The ICC Review.

“He’ll take a call on his career but I won’t be shocked at all (if Sharma retires) because he’s not getting younger. There are other young players in the wings, there’s Shubman Gill, a player of his quality averaging over 40 in the year 2024 and not playing,” Shastri said.

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir stepped to address these queries on whether Rohit will get a place in the playing XI for the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. If India fail to win this Test and cannot qualify for the WTC Finals, this might turn out to be the last Test match for Rohit Sharma.

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According to Shastri, Rishabh Pant’s wicket in the third session lifted the Australian team and they went on to clinch 6 more wickets in the same session to not only win the match by 184 runs, but also take a 2-1 lead in the series.

“I think the turning point was the wicket of Rishabh Pant. They knew they couldn’t win the game by lunchtime once they lost three wickets. The only chance you have of winning is if there’s a platform set, exactly what Rohit said. And then, when Rishabh Pant got out after tea, that lifted the Australians. That was the opening they were looking for, and they made sure to capitalize on it,” Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports.

India’s final wicket fell with less than 14 overs remaining in the day. Nathan Lyon dismissed Mohammed Siraj to help Australia complete a famous victory over the Men in Blue in Melbourne.

With this win, Australia now stands on the verge of winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they head into the fifth and final Test which will be held in Sydney and will commence from December 3. The Baggy Greens are now also in a strong position to make it to their second consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final.

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In the fourth Border-Gavaskar series Test, Rohit could only manage to score a total of 12 runs despite replacing KL Rahul as the opener while Virat also disappointed, scoring just 41 runs in total throughout the 2 innings.

During Day 5 of the fourth Test match in Melbourne, commentator Mark Nicholas asked Shastri on Star Sports on whether he believes that this can be the end of the road for both Virat and Rohit.

“I think Virat will play for some time. Forget the way he got out, or whatever. I think he’ll play for another three or four years. As far as Rohit is concerned, it’s a call. At the top of the order, you know, just feel the footwork isn’t the same. He’s probably at times, late in meeting the ball so it’s his call at the end of the series,” Shastri said.

Both the senior batters failed to contribute much in India’s chase of 340 against Australia on the final day of the fourth Test and were disappointingly dismissed for low scores. While Rohit once again got sent back to the dugout by opposing skipper Pat Cummins for only 9 runs, Virat was dismissed by Mitchell Starc after scoring just 5 runs.

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Ravi Shastri was in the commentary box when Nitish reached the epic milestone, and could not hold back his tears. The former Indian head coach even spoke about what that knock meant for the whole country.

Emotions erupted when #NitishKumarReddy brought up his maiden Test ton! 🇮🇳💪#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 4th Test, Day 4 | SUN, 29th DEC, 4:30 AM | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/f7sS2rBU1l

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 28, 2024

An innings to remember by one and all. For a 21 year old to exhibit that kind of character under pressure brought tears to ones eyes. Pure Gold. Well played young man. God bless. #NKR #TeamIndia #AusvsIND pic.twitter.com/3qL9Ve2Nwh

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) December 28, 2024

Nitish Reddy is the third youngest batter from India after Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant to have hit a Test century in Australia. He is also the first Indian to bat at no. 8 and his a Test century on Australian soil and the first visiting batter in history to score a century in the Melbourne Cricket Ground when batting at that number.

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Following the incident, former India head coach Ravi Shastri slammed the Indian batter for his ‘unnecessary’ actions towards 19-year-old Konstas. Shastri also termed the incident as ‘something you don’t want to see’.

“It’s unnecessary, totally unnecessary. You don’t want to see that. Virat is a senior player, he’s been captain of the side. He’ll have his own explanations as regards that. But it’s something you don’t want to see. One person who will be watching, his eyes will be locked into the proceedings, Andy Pycroft,” Shastri said.

Kohli was fined by 20 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following his heated exchange with Konstas. The India cricketer was also handed a demerit point by the global body.

Meanwhile, Konstas made headlines with his highly impressive debut knock of 60 runs from only 65 deliveries which included 2 unreal sixes to India seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who has proved to be a nightmare for almost every Australia batter throughout the series so far.

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“I think they (Kohli and Smith) will have slipped down the ranks on current form because you know you’ve got the likes of Root taking off, there’s Williamson doing well, Harry Brook has come onto the scene, you know there are a lot of other young players pushing but these are class players,” Shastri told The ICC Review.

Despite both Kohli and Smith going through a rough patch this year in Test cricket, Shastri believes that in a situation like this, the duo will be hungrier than ever.

“In a situation like this, you know they’ll be dangerous because they’ll be hungry,” Shastri said.

Shastri highlighted Smith’s resilience, referring to his determined innings at the Gabba against India, where the Australian maestro scored his 33rd Test century.

“What’s needed you saw from Smith. It might have been a struggle early on but he was prepared to play the waiting game and be disciplined,” Shastri said.

The former India cricketer also showed faith in Kohli who he believes has the ability to regain his peak form.

“I think the same with Virat. If Virat gets over that first 30, 40 minutes, with serious application and discipline, I don’t think he’s (out of form), none of these guys are out of form,” Shastri said.

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One of the main reasons to this string of low scores can be due to him batting on number 6 instead of batting as an opener. This is due to KL Rahul’s brilliant batting displays in the opening position in the ongoing series. The batter first scored an impressive 77 in the Perth Test before playing another valiant knock of 84 in Brisbane.

The change hasn’t been fruitful to Rohit, who has only managed to score a total of 19 runs in 3 innings while batting in the middle order. Amid the 37-year-old’s abysmal performances, former India coach Ravi Shastri believes that the skipper should go in with a clear mindset, change his tactics, and attack the bowlers. 

“I would like to see Rohit Sharma, his tactics change a bit because he can still be extremely dangerous at that number (six). I think he’s got to be very clear in his mindset to go out there and take the attack to the opposition and not worry about anything else,” Shastri said on ICC Review.

Shastri also believes that Rohit should let go of the defensive mindset and try to bat with his natural attacking playstyle.

“The last thing you want is him to be in two minds whether to defend or attack. In his case, it should be attack. He picks up length quickly, he should take the opposition on at that number,” Shastri said.

“Because if he gets away in the first 10-15 minutes, in any way, he’s not got past that 15-20 minutes, half an hour. So why don’t you play a natural game, go and take the attack to the opposition and take it from there?” Shastri added.

Shastri feels that it’s the best way for Rohit to get back into form and win games for India, adding that the best number 6 batters are those who have the ability to counter-attack.

“I think that is his best way of not just coming back into form, winning a game for India as well. Because that number is a crucial number,” Shastri said.

“The best No.6s in the world are the guys who know how to have the ability to counter-attack. They read the situation well. Yes, if a lot of wickets have fallen, maybe for a little while. You might have to be circumspect, but the intent has to be far sooner than later. Especially when you have that kind of ability and especially when you open the batting for India and you have all the shots for Australian conditions,” Shastri added.

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