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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to perform in the first ODI match. They will turn up again in the second ODI on Thursday at Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground, Cardiff. Ahead of the match, former India opener Aakash Chopra has shared the reason for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's failure in the first game.
The cricketer-turned-commentator believes that Virat and Rohit currently do not play much cricket, as they only feature in ODI cricket, and the limited games remain a problem for the two cricketing stalwarts. Rohit scored 11 runs off 21 deliveries, and Virat Kohli scored just 5 runs, in the game which India won by 6 wickets.
Aakash Chopra points out problems for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra highlighted that there will be gaps between ODI series, and all the series comprises off three-matches, which means there will be a lack of game time for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who only play the 50-over format.
"Rohit and Kohli, this will always be a problem for them because an ODI series is generally of three matches. There is a series, then there is nothing for two months, then there is a series, and then nothing for two months. Virat didn't play against Afghanistan either. Rohit still played there," he said.
With Virat Kohli being 37 and Rohit 39, this might be their last tour to England, and the fans will want them to score runs in the upcoming game and also in the third and final ODI.
"So when will Virat Kohli's next ODI series come? I think September. So that is a huge gap, and it keeps coming repeatedly. So you want to score runs. They generally don't fail in the same match. They did in the previous match, but despite that, they have excellent numbers against England. You would want both of them to score the runs because this could be their last England tour," he observed.
Aakash Chopra also pointed out that Rohit Sharma has seven hundreds in England and is among the top ODI centurians on English soil, highlighting that he is the only Indian opener on the list. Rohit Sharma’s career as an opener started in England in the 2013 Champions Trophy, and he loves playing in this nation.
"It will be his first win": Aakash Chopra backs Shubman Gill to win the 2nd ODI and the series
The former opener also pointed out that Shubman Gill might win the series if India wins the second game, and it could be a huge boost as he will win his first series against a top opposition and that too away from home.
"Shubman Gill drew the series in his first assignment (as captain) against England. He scored more than 700 runs, and his performance was excellent. He has returned to face England once again. If he wins the series here, it will be his first win against top teams. He has won against Afghanistan, but lost against Australia and New Zealand as a captain," he said.
Aakash Chopra points out battle of Shubman Gill vs Joe Root
He stated that in the second game Shubman Gill and Joe Root will yet again get runs as they have been in sensational form in recent times. In the first game, Gill scored 80 and retired out, while Root remained unbeaten with the score of 76*.
"The better thing than that is the way his bat is talking. In fact, it's almost like Shubman Gill vs Joe Root. If we see this year's ODI numbers, you will say Shubman Gill is talking to the sky, and if you see the last two years' numbers, Joe Root has an average of 70. That is absolutely stellar," Chopra observed.
