Internet Trolls Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Following Poor Performance at MCG

The cricketing world once again turned its attention to Melbourne as India went head-to-head with Australia on Day 5 of the fourth Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). But the focus soon shifted towards criticism as star Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could not deliver, leaving fans and critics frustrated over their lacklustre performances.

Struggles of Indian Batting Duo

Two of India's most iconic cricketers are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Some time back, they were in a terrible wobbly patch. They might have been expected to wobble even further on Sunday as they faced a score of 340 set during the second innings. He fell for a measly 9 runs due to a sharp catch made by Mitchell Marsh off the bowling of Pat Cummins. Kohli fell to a familiar mistake, chasing a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, which he was caught in the slips for a paltry 5 runs.

This became another chapter in their long history of woes with the bat, and this is what triggered widespread disappointment from fans. Social media went haywire with criticism with most terming their performance a "same old story" of missed opportunities and poor shot selection.

The Early Collapse

India's first-order collapse was one reason that had them struggle in the face of a rather formidable Australian bowling attack. At lunch on the last day, India was on 33 for three wickets with K.L. Rahul getting dismissed for a duck as well. All the early wickets have put India in a vulnerable state and would need a serious partnership to steady the ship.

Despite the gallant efforts of the lower order in the previous innings, early dismissals of major batters put immense pressure on the middle and the lower order to pull off an improbable chase.

The Fightback of Australia

Australia started Day 5 at 228 for nine and added only six more runs before being bowled out for 234. Though the end was very quick for their innings, their tailenders still proved to be very courageous. Nathan Lyon, who batted at number 10, produced a wonderful knock of 41 off 55 balls, and Scott Boland, at number 11, proved to be quite useful as well with his 15 not out off 74 balls.

Jasprit Bumrah was the sensation among India's bowling. He took six wickets that collapsed the Sri Lankan innings to an impressive figure of 5/57. Mohammed Siraj gave the team strong support taking 3 wickets for 70 runs, and Ravindra Jadeja contributed with one important wicket for 33 runs.

Bumrah's Brilliance

Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance was a ray of hope for India in an otherwise trying game. His success under pressure marks him out as one of the best fast bowlers in the world. Nathan Lyon's dismissal was the first bright spot in the Indian camp, having batted gutsily and frustrated the Indian bowlers at times.

While applause went to Bumrah and the bowlers, the spotlight continued to point to below-par batting by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Fans fumed on social media, venting out their frustrations over the lack of fireworks that the seniors, particularly, were showing in high-pressure matches.

The particular ire, however, is that Kohli chases a wide delivery in the manner similar to those made in the past. Questions revolve around Rohit as a shot selector and unable to convert the starts into substantial scores.

The underperformance of two of India's most dependable batters has raised a red flag ahead of future series. Rohit and Kohli have a wealth of experience and undeniable talent but the recent form of the duo has left much to be desired. Being the leaders and senior players of the team, their comeback would be crucial not only for their individual careers but also for the team's success as a whole.

Being optimistic about the return of form from the duo, with Indian cricket fans generally supportive, different technical flaws can also be addressed and confidence regained. Team management may provide support accordingly.

While cricket is undoubtedly a team sport, it is the individual performances in critical moments that hog the limelight. For Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the MCG Test was a sharp reminder of the expectations heaped upon them and the scrutiny they face. When India gets ready to face the future challenges, it will be the resilience and adaptability of these seasoned campaigners that will ensure that the team continues to perform well on the world stage.

For now, the internet's criticism serves as a wake-up call for the batting stalwarts to reflect, regroup, and reignite the fire that has made them two of cricket's modern legends.