Boxing Day Test: Can King Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to form at the MCG post Ashwin’s abrupt retirement?

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A whirlpool of emotions churns you when you watch two legends, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat at the nets in the MCG. The traditional Boxing Day Test is five days away and so much has happened in the last few days.

No, nothing to do with a life-saving draw at the Gabba to keep the BGT series level 1-1, but how Ravichandran Ashwin retiring so abruptly has taken everyone by surprise.

Perhaps, the love-letter penned by his wife Prithi Narayanan on Friday (December 20) and shared on social media suggests how it is important to enjoy each day. And, even after retirement, how Ashwin can ingest a few more calories, spend more time with the family and also relish and relive all the magical moments.

Prithi has been with Ashwin through the highs and lows. Surely, she would have helped Ashwin decide enough is enough, pack up and leave the sets, to borrow a phrase from 'movie sets.'

Back to the former captain and present captain, Kohli and Rohit, they are under intense scrutiny. Long sessions at the nets are fine but the way they have been dismissed in Tests during the BGT Series has been bizarre.

Kohli fishing outside the off stump and Rohit throwing his gloves in frustration at the Gabba, these images say a lot. Clearly, they are aware the clock is ticking. They not only have to score but get their mind back on the game.

Both, Kohli and Rohit would have been jolted by Ashwin's retirement. The 'Madrasi' did not take his place for granted, nor did he just want to be part of a squad with no realistic chance of playing in the last two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

Rewind to what happened after the ICC T20 World Cup win in the West Indies, both Kohli and Rohit said goodbye to T20 international cricket. It was a smart move, to quit on a high.

Sadly, now, fans and experts, Sunny Gavaskar included, are baiting these two stars, asking questions if their retirement from Tests is about to happen. Gavaskar saying this is not just to create a sensation but sensing what is going on in the minds of Kohli and Rohit.

After all, post retirement, Sunny has spent so many decades watching and travelling with wherever the Indian team travels and commentates. He would know about fatigue and form, or the lack of it.

Without sounding cliche, Kohli and Rohit need to score big, set and example. Yes, if KL Rahul can play himself into form as an opener and skilled Ravindra Jadeja can score big runs, it is but obvious fans will expect Kohli and Rohit to score.

It is certain, Rohit will bat in the middle order and has to get going. The dry run has been painful and the manner of his dismissal an ugly sight. He has been such a terrific batter, to watch him like this is not good.

Ashwin had wife Prithi for company, so he was in good mind space. Watch images from his 100th Test in Dharamsala earlier this year, it's so beautiful. Is Rohit focused, though he did take a short paternity break, he knows best. If he can apply himself and score, it is vital.

Nobody will allow even a captain the luxury of hanging around with the team with no intrinsic value. That was possible only in the old days when England had in Mike Brearley a cerebral captain. A captain, today, has to perform and deliver.

Back to King Kohli, he is being baited. The more he is focused on just cricket, the better. He knows Australia very well and how much they love him. At the same time, their media is no better than the rest, when it comes to needling him.

Both the former and present captain have so much experience, one big knock each from them will redefine the narrative. Kohli smashed a ton in the first Test, so he will attempt to come good. Rohit is the man in trouble, under intense scrutiny. Is he going to think about Ashwin's retirement or is his mind wandering, how the family is back home in Mumbai?