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NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has shared a critical assessment of Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s Test career, noting that it pales in comparison to Virat Kohli‘s illustrious record.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra also emphasised Rohit’s drastic dip in form during the second half of 2024, which coincided with India’s 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and home series whitewashed by New Zealand.
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Rohit managed only 31 runs in five innings across three Tests during the BGT series, averaging a dismal 6.20. Reflecting on his overall Test career, Chopra highlighted the difference in stature between Rohit and Kohli.
“His Test career is not as glorious as Virat’s because Virat has played 123 Tests, while Rohit has played only 67. Rohit has been a bit of a late bloomer, scoring 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57 in 116 innings. Kohli, despite a dip in recent years, still averages around 47,” Chopra stated.
Chopra further analyzed Rohit’s performance over the last five years, pointing out that his average in this period has been middling.
“From January 2020 to the end of 2024, Rohit has played 35 matches, scoring 2,160 runs at an average of 36, with six centuries. In comparison, Kohli played 39 matches and scored at an average of 30.72 during the same period. Rohit’s six centuries have all come in winning causes, unlike Kohli’s three,” he added.
Breaking down Rohit’s year-by-year performance, Chopra acknowledged moments of brilliance but noted the inconsistency.
- 2020: Rohit did not play any Test matches
- 2021: Rohit scored 906 runs in 21 innings at an average of 47.68, including two centuries, earning praise for his contributions.
- 2022: A truncated year for Rohit, where he played only two matches, scoring 90 runs at an average of 30. Chopra attributed this to injuries that have plagued the batter’s Test career.
- 2023: With eight matches and 545 runs at an average of 41.92, including two centuries, Chopra deemed Rohit’s performance satisfactory.
- 2024: Marked by inconsistency, Rohit’s form nosedived in the latter half of the year. He scored 619 runs across 14 matches, including two centuries, but his average dipped to 24, exacerbated by a lean run in the England series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Chopra concluded that Rohit’s inability to maintain consistency in Tests, coupled with frequent injuries, has hindered his legacy in the longest format of the game. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Indian skipper’s struggles in 2024 have reignited questions about his role in the team.
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