Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been urged to return to domestic cricket and shed their VIP culture, following India’s historic 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand.
Source: NDTV
The lack of exposure to domestic cricket continues to be a point of contention for the senior players of the Indian cricket team, with the 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand fueling intense criticism. Many believe that players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would have benefited greatly had they chosen to play in the Duleep Trophy. Some experts even suggest that the duo should consider playing the ongoing Ranji Trophy to regain their form.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif shares this view, urging the senior players to give up their luxury of big cars, flights, and VIP treatment and return to the grassroots of domestic cricket.
“Absolutely. They need form, and they need to bat hours there. If they end up scoring a hundred, then it will benefit them immensely and serve as a morale booster,” Kaif said in a video shared on social media.
Kaif further drew attention to Rishabh Pant’s breakthrough moment in the 2020 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Pant was included in the squad after scoring a century in a practice match. His inclusion led to a game-changing performance for India in the series, including the historic win in the Gabba Test.
Kaif emphasized, “So whoever thinks that they are struggling to score runs and did not get enough game time, they should 100 per cent play in domestic cricket. Forget that you travel in big cars and flights and that you may not get VIP treatment there. If you want to find form, you need to put in that effort.”
Kaif’s remarks reflect the growing belief that India’s senior cricketers, including Virat Kohli, need to reconnect with the basics of domestic cricket to regain the form needed to perform at the international level. He further stressed that even Virat, who has struggled to find consistency lately, would benefit from returning to domestic cricket, where the focus is on hard work and endurance.
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