India Loses Border-Gavaskar Trophy; Rohit and Virat Face Criticism
As India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are facing heavy criticism from both fans and critics. Both are currently going through a rough patch with the bat. Though Virat scored a century on the Perth Test, questions are being raised about his place on the team.
Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who was in Dubai for the launch of The Tennis Ball Cricket Premier League, spoke to PTI and backed Rohit and Virat. He reminded everyone of their past contributions to Indian cricket.
India was eliminated from the World Test Championship final by Australia, who won the fifth and final Test in Sydney, reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after ten years.
PTI shared a video on X where Yuvraj said:
“I look at what India has achieved in the last 5-6 years. India has won two back-to-back Test series in Australia. I don’t remember any other team doing that. People are criticizing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli a lot, but they forget what these two have done in the past. They are two of the greatest cricketers of this generation. Yes, they lost, but they are more hurt than us. I am confident India will bounce back.”
Yuvraj also praised Gautam Gambhir (coach), Ajit Agarkar (selector), Rohit, Virat, and Jasprit Bumrah, calling them the best minds in cricket. He added that discussions with the BCCI, including Jay Shah, will help decide India’s future plans.
Virat and Rohit’s Struggles
In this series, Virat Kohli scored only 190 runs in eight innings, averaging 23.75. He was dismissed four times by Scott Boland and caught in slips eight times. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, managed just 31 runs in three matches before opting out of the final Test in Sydney.
On Rohit’s decision to step out, Yuvraj said:
“It’s a big thing. I haven’t seen a captain who is out of form voluntarily stepping aside from the playing XI. This shows Rohit Sharma’s greatness—he put the team above himself. He’s a great captain, win or lose. Under his leadership, we played the ODI World Cup final, won the T20 World Cup, and achieved a lot. The loss in New Zealand (0-3 at home) should hurt us more than losing in Australia. Losing at home is not acceptable. But it’s okay to lose in Australia after winning there twice. Australia has always been a dominant team.”
Support During Tough Times
When asked what changes he would suggest in the Indian dressing room, Yuvraj humbly said:
“I’m not in a position to comment on that. I was and still am a student of the game. Gambhir, Rohit, and Virat have played much more cricket than I have. In my opinion, when players aren’t performing, it’s very easy to criticize them, but supporting them during tough times is what matters. It’s the media’s job to criticize, but as a teammate and friend, it’s my job to support them. For me, they are family.”
This balanced perspective by Yuvraj reminds us of the ups and downs in cricket and the importance of supporting players during challenging times.
