IND vs AUS: Former Indian Pacer Urges Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to Retire if They Don’t Deliver in Australia

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Following India's historic 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand, former Indian left-arm pacer Karsan Ghavri has voiced strong criticism of India's batting lineup, singling out veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The whitewash, India's first in a three-Test series at home, has raised concerns ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where India must secure a 4-0 victory to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

Ghavri, who played 39 Tests and 19 ODIs for India, minced no words about the lackluster performance of India's top-order, especially Rohit and Kohli. "It was a very, very poor performance," he stated in an interview with timesofindia.com.

"I am really disappointed with the way our batters performed, especially Rohit and Virat. If you can't perform well in your own conditions, what will you do in Australia?" In the series against New Zealand, Rohit and Kohli managed only 91 and 93 runs respectively across six innings.

For the historic whitewash at home against the Kiwis, Ghavri held the batsmen accountable as he said, "I blame our batsmen for this. We are not putting enough runs on the board. In Bengaluru, we were all out for 46. In Pune, we didn't score more than 260 in either innings. That is very poor batting."

He made it clear that the upcoming Australia tour might be a defining moment in their careers. "Definitely, 200 percent yes. They need to score big. If they don't perform, it's time for them to call time on their Test careers," he said, suggesting that India's future requires dependable batsmen.

Rohit and Kohli's recent form has raised questions, with both players scoring a single half-century in their last ten innings. Despite their experience, the duo's dwindling returns in 2024 - Rohit averaging 29.40 and Kohli 22.72 in Tests - signal a troubling trend as India faces one of its toughest series in recent years.

According to Ghavri, India must set totals above 350 or 400 to stay competitive, something the current top order has struggled to achieve. Adding to India's woes is a weakened pace attack, with Mohammed Shami absent and Mohammed Siraj out of form.

Ghavri warned that this could place immense pressure on lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah, potentially overstretching the limited bowling resources. As India heads into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ghavri's words carry weight, especially with the future of two of India's most celebrated batsmen at stake.

"If they perform, keep them; if not, why select them?" he asked, calling for Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane as alternative choices. The Australia series will likely determine whether Rohit and Kohli can reclaim their form or whether it's time for the next generation to step up in the longest format.