IND vs SA 2nd Test: Former legendary Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has made a bold statement stating that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the reason for the Indian team’s middle-order collapse in recent times. According to him, the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Cheteshwar Pujara have badly destroyed India’s batting lineup.
The Indian test team is on the verge of losing another series at home, now against South Africa, and the middle-order collapse is the big reason for India’s loss.
IND vs SA 2nd Test
In a recent chat, Anil Kumble stated that over the last few years, India’s top order had gone through many changes. He stated that players who used to be the backbone of the Indian test team are now either retired or are not in the team.
He said,
“The other aspect also, you know, I want to bring up this point about India’s batting. Over the last three or four years, you have seen four batters in the top five either retire or not be picked. You know, if it is, you know, Virat Kohli is retired, and so are Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara, and then you have, of course… Rahane. So four out of five, plus Shubman Gill isn’t in this lineup.”
The names of retired and dropped players are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane. On top of that, current Indian captain Shubman Gill is out of the team due to injury.
“Batting Orders At The Top Have Been Up & Down”: Anil Kumble
Further, Kumble added that such changes in the batting order one after another are affecting the team’s confidence. He feels that young and new batters need time to settle and perform, neither constantly changing the batting orders.
He said,
“Yes, they will come good; they will be off days. It is just a matter of supporting them for a period of six, seven, or eight tests. But if you look back at the last, what, 10-12 tests, the batting orders at the top have been up and down.”
Kumble also took a dig at Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, stating that players should be backed for at least six to eight test matches so that they can find their rhythm in international cricket.
He said,
“There have been a lot of changes there, so that is, I am sure, a bit unsettling for the players too. So looking at all of that and the efforts to be better.”
Talking about the match, the Day 4 game has come to an end; India is on 27/2. The Day 5 game will play a crucial role in deciding India’s fate against South Africa in a do-or-die second test match.
