Team India suffered without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli :
In the West Indies, Team India suffered setbacks in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 matches without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, losing 3 out of 5 limited-overs encounters. This included 2 T20 matches and 1 ODI. The team management stated that they were experimenting, providing opportunities to several young players.
Head coach Rahul Dravid also attempted to salvage the experiment strategy, but the question remains whether Team India is truly prepared to play without the 36-year-old Rohit and the 34-year-old Virat. We will delve into this question further in the following story:-
Out of 202 T20 matches, 167 featured at least one player from the duo. India initiated T20 International cricket in 2006. Rohit Sharma debuted in September 2007, followed by Virat Kohli in 2010. India has played a total of 202 T20 matches, with 198 of them after both players’ debuts. Either Rohit or Virat has been part of the playing XI in 167 matches. India secured victory in 109 of these encounters, achieving a win percentage of 65.27%. This includes matches where both were in the playing XI.
Team’s Successwith Both Playing:
Team’s Success Even with Both Playing From 2007 till now, it played 96 T20 matches with both players in the playing eleven. They won 63 matches and lost 30, resulting in a win percentage of around 65%. Having either Rohit or Virat on the team significantly impacts India’s performance in T20 matches.
Impact of Not Having Both Players:
Impact of Not Having Both Players Without Rohit and Virat, Team played 31 T20 matches from 2007 till now. They won 18 matches and lost 11, with one tied match and one no result. The team’s win percentage dropped to approximately 58% without them, which is up to 7% lower compared to when either both or one of them played.
Moreover, between 2011 and 2018, the team played only 6 T20 matches without them. Among these, they faced Zimbabwe in 5 matches and Afghanistan in 1 match, but even here, the team suffered defeat in 2 matches. This shows that Team India didn’t fare well against top teams without both in T20 matches during this period.
Why is Team India preparing to play without both players?
Why is Team India preparing to play without both players? Rohit Sharma, aged 36, and Virat Kohli, aged 34, have become senior players for the team. Rohit has been playing cricket for India for 16 years, while Kohli has been representing the nation for 15 years. Both have reached the peak of their careers and might bid farewell to international cricket within 2 to 4 years.
Even if they don’t retire in these years, the team will need to learn to play without them, as Rohit and Virat also secured their spots in Team when senior players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Rahul Dravid were in the twilight of their careers.
Starting to Play Without Both After 2023 :
Starting to Play Without Both After 2023 In both T20 and One Day International (ODI) formats, Team requires both.
• In the T20 format, the team has started to play without them. If the team continues to show confidence in new players, reliance on them might decrease after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
• In ODIs, Team India has played some matches without Rohit and Virat, but the team still heavily depends on them. To reduce dependence, the team might have to start playing without them after the 2023 World Cup, ensuring preparedness even without them until the 2025 Champions Trophy and 2027 ODI World Cup.
• In Test cricket, Team India doesn’t prefer playing without Rohit and Virat. Over the next 2-3 years, India will have to find replacements for both, as their absence will create a significant gap in the team that will be challenging to fill.
Pics Courtesy : Google