Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh has criticized veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their underwhelming performances during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Harbhajan Singh stated that the selection should be based on performance rather than a player’s status or reputation.
India lost the fifth Test in Sydney by six wickets, losing the series 1-3 down under. This was India’s first Test series loss in Australia since the 2014-15 series. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both faltered when the team needed them the most, which led to questions about their positions in the Indian Test line-up.
Whether Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, No Player Is Bigger Than the Game – Harbhajan Singh
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh said that no player, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, should be considered bigger than the game. Harbhajan added that if selectors decide to include senior players for the England tour, they must ensure these players play in county cricket.
“The selection should be based on the performance, whether Virat or Rohit. No player is bigger than the game, even if they think they are superstars in their minds. If you want to take senior players on tour, you have to make sure they play county cricket before the England series,” Harbhajan said.
Rohit Sharma, who played both as an opener and middle-order batter, managed just 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.2. He scored 164 runs in his last 15 Test innings at an average of 10.93, with one half-century.
Virat Kohli scored a total of 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75, despite scoring an unbeaten century in the first Test in Perth. He got out in a similar fashion while poking at deliveries outside the off-stump eight times. Kohli scored 359 runs in his last 15 Test innings at an average of 27.61.
They Are Stuck to Stubbornness – Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh questioned the team management’s decision to play two spinners on a pace-friendly pitch in Sydney. Singh added that the team should have considered selecting another good seamer, which might have been more effective.
“How was selection done? Was there any point in playing two spinners in Sydney on this pitch where they didn’t even bowl? So, to extend your batting, you added spinners because they can bat. But you didn’t see if there was another good seamer, things could have been better. They are stuck to stubbornness. This is not the T20 format. Test cricket is played differently,” he added.
The Series Would Have Ended 5-0 – Harbhajan Singh
The 44-year-old praised Jasprit Bumrah for his exceptional bowling, stating that India would have likely lost the series by a 5-0 or 4-0 margin without him. Singh called Bumrah a “national treasure” and credited him for saving India in several key moments during the series.
“If Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t in this tour, the series would have ended 5-0. Jassi saved India in Perth. After Adelaide, he saved India in the rest of the matches. If he wasn’t in the series, India would have lost by either 5-0 or 4-0,” Harbhajan said.
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