Former India cricketer Parthiv Patel has launched a scathing attack on the Indian batters for their poor performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The star-studded Indian batting line-up has failed to live up to the expectations so far.
The star batters like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill have been below par so far. Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored centuries in India’s win at Perth but have been unable to make an impact in the last two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are yet to stamp their authority. Gill has got some starts but has been unable to convert them into big ones. Rohit, meanwhile, has looked woefully out of form after moving himself to the No. 6 spot.
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Parthiv Patel speaks on India’s recent collapses
While speaking to Cricbuzz, Parthiv Patel mentioned India’s recent collapses against both pace and spin bowling. He reckons that those collapses have not happened due to extreme aggression but because of the lack of discipline shown by the Indian batters.
Patel feels that the Indian batters need to respect the traditional style of Test cricket and need to apply themselves rather than trying to play rash shots in order to be successful in the red-ball format.
“There is no doubt that collapses have occurred, especially in home series. We have seen collapses in rank-turner pitches against New Zealand. When we toured Australia, the collapses continued there,” Patel noted.
“I do not believe this has happened due to extreme aggression. If we respect the traditional style of Test cricket and bat with discipline, these are the same batters who have previously performed well. Indian batters need to apply themselves more because they have the ability. If they bat with discipline, they can succeed anywhere,” he added.
Indian batters have been prone to several collapses recently. Even during the home Test season, the Men in Blue suffered various collapses and were ultimately stunned by a visiting New Zealand team 0-3.
Virat Kohli’s poor form in Test cricket
Being the two seniormost players of the side, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are under immense pressure to perform. But both of them have been struggling for runs recently. Kohli smashed an unbeaten 100 off 143 balls in the second innings of the Perth Test.
However, his weakness outside the off stump has surfaced again since then. Virat Kohli has been constantly troubled by the ball at fourth and fifth stump as the Australian fast bowlers have constantly tested him.
In three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy so far, Virat Kohli has scored 126 runs at an average of 31.50. In the five home Tests before it, the 36-year-old scored 192 runs in 10 innings at an average of 21.33.
Rohit Sharma’s numbers since India’s home Test season
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has even poor numbers. He was slated to open earlier in the series but missed out on the first Test due to the birth of his second child. Rohit came back into the squad for the second Test and has played since.
However, his numbers have gone down considerably. He has scored 19 runs in two Tests so far at an average of 6.33. In the home Test season, Rohit Sharma collected 133 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.30.