Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma emphasised the crucial importance of determination and ambition in players selected for Test cricket, stating that only those with a genuine "hunger" for success will be considered for the national team. This statement came after a triumphant day for Rohit and his team, as India secured the 5-match Test series against England with a 3-1 lead, following their victory in the fourth Test at Ranchi by five wickets.
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Rohit Sharma, who has recently surpassed the milestone of 4,000 runs in Test cricket, reflected on the challenges of the longer format of the game. He highlighted the necessity for players to exhibit perseverance and a relentless desire for achievement to excel consistently in Test cricket.
"It's a tough format and if you want success and if you want to excel, then hunger is very important. We will only give chances to the ones, who have that hunger. You eventually get to know who doesn't have that hunger to play Tests," Rohit said in the post-match press conference.
"The ones who want to play, have the hunger to perform, play in tough conditions, will be given preference. If there's no hunger, then there's no point playing them. I don't see anyone who doesn't have that hunger. If you don't make use of opportunities, they will go. The ones who perform and help teams win, they get more attention," Rohit said.
Sharma's comments underline the high standards and expectations set for players representing India in Test matches, emphasising the importance of not just skill, but also the mental fortitude and passion required to thrive at the highest level of the sport.
Was Rohit warning Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer?
With Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer continuously ignoring the guidelines issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for players to not prioritise IPL over Ranji Trophy matches, Rohit's comments can be taken as a direct warning to the aforementioned two cricketers.
Shubman Gill and Dhurv Jurel shine
On the decisive Day 4 of the match, India successfully reached the 192-run target, thanks to an outstanding 72-run partnership between Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill for the sixth wicket. Gill remained unbeaten on 52 runs while Jurel scored an unbeaten 39 runs under a tremendous amount of pressure.
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