‘Rohit Sharma has fared better’ – Former India batter takes aim at Virat Kohli after yet another batting failure

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli is facing massive pressure after falling for just 17 runs on day one of the SCG Test. The 36-year-old was dismissed in the same manner for the seventh time in the series as he was caught in the slips off Scott Boland on Friday. Former India batter Aakash Chopra has questioned Kohli’s form on his YouTube channel. 

Chopra said “Virat Kohli again got out outside off. It's been an entire series. You might say that I should talk more about Shubman Gill but he didn't play the first and fourth Tests. He has played two or three knocks and there also he looked decent. Yashasvi Jaiswal was wow in the last Test match and KL Rahul has had a decent series."

During the course of his live chat on his YouTube Channel, Chopra also mentioned that Rohit Sharma had fared better than Kohli in the last few years. “There are a lot of expectations from Virat Kohli. He has scored a hundred for sure but he hasn't scored the runs after that. He is with the bowlers if you see the first-innings average in 2024. Rohit Sharma has made himself sit out. Of course, his form has gone drastically but if you see the last four years, Rohit Sharma has actually fared a little better,"

Aakash Chopra questions Shubman Gill 

Yet another batter who has failed to get going this series is Shubman Gill. The young batter missed the Perth Test due to injury and sat out the MCG Test match. On his return to the side, Gill scored just 20 before throwing his wicket away. The right-handed batter was out the last ball before lunch on day one caught by Smith in the slips off Lyon. 

Aakash Chopra said “Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul got out at the start. After that, Shubman Gill got out to spin and that should hurt. It's okay to get out to a fast bowler on this pitch. I am not denying that Nathan Lyon is a good bowler but Shubman Gill is a much better player than that. He shouldn't get out against spin on such a pitch”

The 47-year-old also had words of praise for Rishabh Pant and said “Rishabh Pant tried to play differently. Probably his playing style changed based on what he had been told. However, he got out and Nitish Kumar Reddy got out off the next ball. Washington Sundar was fighting well. Again 50-50 on that dismissal also, especially since the on-field umpire's decision was reversed,"