How Long we will rely on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to deliver for us in Big Games?

Dependency on Kohli and Virat in Big Games: 

Over the past 10-15 years, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have undeniably played pivotal roles in shaping the trajectory of Indian cricket. In high-stakes encounters, the expectations from these two stalwarts are monumental. However, a recent showdown against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 opener, which was ultimately washed out due to rain in Kandy, Sri Lanka, exposed a concerning pattern. The top-order Indian batsmen seemed utterly bewildered facing the explosive trio of Pakistani bowlers, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf. Even seasoned campaigners like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli appeared at sea, succumbing to Afridi’s inswinging deliveries. This issue against left-arm fast bowlers, be it Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan in the past, and now Afridi, persists, raising questions about the need for a strategic solution.

Dependence on Top 3 Batsmen: Virat Kohli, renowned for his remarkable record against Pakistan, faltered cheaply in this contest. Of particular concern is Rohit Sharma’s batting performance since taking up the captaincy role. His inconsistency in matches where he is expected to lead from the front demands attention. Despite the claims of having one of the world’s strongest batting line-ups, India still heavily relies on its top three batsmen to deliver when it matters most. This reliance, in itself, raises red flags and emphasizes the urgency of developing future prospects.

Emerging Players and Tail-End Struggles: Although we witnessed heroic innings from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya in the middle, it’s imperative to acknowledge that, without their contributions, the Men in Blue wouldn’t have even reached the 200-run mark. The subsequent failure of the middle and lower order, including Jadeja, Thakur, and others, to capitalize on the foundation laid by Kishan and Pandya was evident. In a surprising turn of events, it was Jasprit Bumrah, a tail-ender, who displayed more fearlessness with the bat, securing the third-highest run total in the India-Pakistan clash with 16 runs. This exposes a significant concern regarding India’s tail-end batting.

India's two biggest stars got Afridid 🦅🎯#PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/KKCC1SbuMV

— Sport360° (@Sport360) September 2, 2023

Future Prospects and Preparations for Upcoming Tournaments: With the Asia Cup Super 4 games and the impending World Cup on the horizon, it’s high time for India to address these issues. The team’s repeated struggles in critical encounters have placed them in the category of an average side, prone to choking when it matters most. To avoid a disastrous outcome in the upcoming tournaments, India must begin nurturing and integrating emerging talents into the squad while working on the weaknesses in both top-order and tail-end batting. Only then can India shed its dependence on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in high-pressure situations and truly elevate its status as a cricketing powerhouse on the global stage.