Cricket

Anil Kumble feels the Indian Test team is missing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Anil Kumble linked India's Test batting collapse to the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, stating the resulting instability is "unsettling for the players." He pointed out that four out of five top batters have been replaced and demanded stability and support for the young batsmen over the next 6-8 Tests.

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Former Indian spinner and commentator Anil Kumble has opened up on India’s poor batting efforts in the second and final Test against South Africa, in Guwahati, which is currently underway. 

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Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar, the former Indian cricketer asserted that in the last few years, India lost four out of its top five batters either to retirement or for not being picked in the squad.

While Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced retirement from the longest format of the game earlier this year, Cheteshwar Pujara bid adieu to Tests in August, and Ajinkya Rahane played his last Test in July 2023. On the other hand, Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the second Test due to a neck injury. 

“I want to bring this point about India’s batting. Over the last three or four years, you have seen four batters in the top five either retire or not be picked," Kumble said while speaking on JioHotstar. 

“Virat Kohli is retired, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, then you have, of course… Rahane. So four out of five, plus Shubman Gill isn’t in this lineup. Yes, India did miss Shubman, the captain, but also, more importantly, missed him as a batter," Kumble added. 

Furthermore, Kumble backed the Indian batters to come out well, but also added that there shouldn’t be too many constant changes in the batting order, which could hamper the confidence of the batters. 

“Yes, they will come good, they will be off days. It is just a matter of supporting them for a period of six, seven, or eight Tests. But if you look back at the last 10-12 Tests, the batting orders at the top have been up and down," Kumble stated.

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“There have been a lot of changes there, so that is, I am sure, a bit unsettling for the players too. So looking at all of that and the effort here, you know, you feel disappointed. You expected the effort to be better," he concluded.

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