According to former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be treated differently for their body of work over the years, and their status in the ODI team should never have been up for question.
The two batting stalwarts had three hundreds (two by Kohli) and five half-centuries (three by Rohit) between them in the previous six ODIs, despite the national selection committee members and head coach Gautam’s doubts about the senior duo maintaining form and fitness until the 2027 World Cup.
“I don’t think the place of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the team should have been a question. Look at what they have done over so many years,” Bangar said while speaking to JioStar.
Bangar is aware that it frequently takes a few games to get into the swing of things because ODI is the least popular format, but they have earned that time with their accomplishments for the national team.
“They have retired from two formats, so it’s obvious they might take just a couple of sessions to get back into action, because they have done it so often. They don’t need to play as many matches as a younger player.”
“Once they are there, once they are hungry and fit, you want players of that quality. You have to treat them differently and give them space,” Bangar explained why the two white-ball legends should be measured differently.
38-year-old Rohit scored 57 and 75 in the first and third games of the just finished series against South Africa, while 37-year-old “Player of the Series” Kohli amassed incredible scores of 135, 102, and 65 not out.
“When they are on song, you see the difference. Their sheer presence changes the dressing room atmosphere.”
Bangar believes that the two veterans must have talked to the younger players who participated in the embarrassing Test whitewash against the Proteas. Bangar has also worked with Kohli at the RCB and personally supervised his batting workouts.
“After the humiliating loss in the Test series, they must have spoken to the boys. They helped put things behind and play with freedom and authority, giving the whole team supreme confidence.”
