“If you don’t score a fifty in 14 matches, questions will be raised” Kapil Dev questions Rohit Sharma for prolonged lean patch

With important players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma missing the South Africa tour of India 2022, a lot of questions were raised. Moreover, both of them have been struggling with the form for quite some time now. The Cricket fraternity has been divided on what would work the best for the players and also team India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. While some like Ravi Shastri have advised a break from cricket. Sunil Gavaskar has questioned how could one get back to form, after being away from the game. Now world cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has talked about the lean patch Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are going through.

Kapil Dev questions Rohit Sharma for prolonged lean patch

“It’s hard to know today who has been rested or asked to be rested. Only selectors will know about this. The player (Rohit) is brilliant, no question about that. But if you don’t score a fifty in 14 matches, questions will be raised, be it Gary Sobers, Don Bradman, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar or Viv Richards. Only Rohit can answer that what’s happening. Is it too much (cricket) or has he stopped enjoying it? Players like Rohit and Virat (Kohli) should enjoy the game. How they feel is very important (for their performances). You have to score runs (to get back in form). You cannot go too far based on reputation alone.

Eventually, the opportunities will get dried up. How many chances would you need after 14 games? Can’t understand why they’re rested. If dropped, where they will get a chance to play then? It’s quite difficult to see how they play now. What I feel is that these players need to correct their thinking. I would be happy if they prove me wrong. If you aren’t scoring runs, then there’s a problem somewhere. Either there’s too much cricket or too less. We only see one thing – how you perform. If performance has dropped, then hard to stop people from talking. It’s not possible. Your performance and bat should speak. Rest doesn’t matter.”

Kapil Dev

Watch: Kapil Dev talking about the senior Indian players

He will have to address his cricket mentally: Kapil Dev on Kohli

“He (Kohli) is like a hero to us. We used to think if there would come a player who we can compare to Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, and Sachin Tendulkar. We never thought like that. Then he (Kohli) emerged onto the scene. Now, the comparison is gone (for the past two years). He will have to address his cricket mentally.”