"Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma 'Both Ageing': Australia Great's Candid Remarks Ahead of BGT 2024-25

As the Indian cricket team grapples with a rare setback in the Test format, concerns are being raised about the performances of its senior players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Following India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand—their first on home soil in 12 years—former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell has voiced his thoughts on the aging duo's impact on the team’s dynamics.

Kohli and Sharma have both retired from T20 Internationals but continue to represent India in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Tests. Their recent performances have come under scrutiny, particularly after India lost the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune, with margins of 8 wickets and 113 runs, respectively. This defeat has sparked discussions about the future of the Indian batting lineup.

Chappell, during a discussion on World Wide Sports, highlighted the struggles faced by Kohli and Sharma. He noted that with Kohli approaching his 36th birthday on November 5 and Sharma already at 37, the pressures of aging could be weighing on their minds. “India have got some batting problems. [Yashasvi] Jaiswal is a very good-looking young player; left-handed opener. I think [Shubman] Gill can really play, but then you've got [Virat] Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are both ageing. And you get to that point where people start talking about it, and maybe it starts to creep in the head a little bit, ‘Am I getting to that age where it all starts to go downhill?’ They are both at that age,” Chappell remarked.

Adding to this, former Australia captain Mark Taylor echoed Chappell's sentiments, pointing out the shift in the team’s composition. “They've moved on from Pujara and Rahane, and they've left Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, their two best players. But also, they've had a bit of a rocky period. They are not making the runs you expect a senior player to make. And that has put pressure on their young guys and the lower order. Rishabh Pant, Jadeja, Ashwin; they can all make runs, but you also need someone to make the bulkier runs from your best players. And over the last 12-18 months, that hasn't been the case for India,” Taylor noted.

As the Indian team prepares for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the performance of Kohli and Sharma will be crucial in determining the team's success, especially as they seek to regain their standing after the disappointing series against New Zealand.