Two of the best players in Indian cricket at the moment, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, are slowly getting close to the end of their glorious and legendary careers. Their current form is dubious, but their class is not. After the 2024 T20 World Cup, both of the senior stars had a turbulent time. Since they have already stopped playing International cricket in the shortest format, there are now concerns about whether they should still use the other forms. While Kohli recently celebrated his 36th birthday, Rohit is just a few months away from turning 38.
Kapil Dev on Rohit and Kohli
All eyes are on them to make an impression in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 after their Test match defeats against New Zealand and Australia. Speaking with outsiders to resolve issues is not a negative thing, according to the former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
"When there are no runs, problems are on all sides. The best way out is to talk to cricketers, who are your 'type'. See you old videos and analyse how you used to play. You will not get the same 20-25 year old Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, but if you see your old videos, you will get an idea. Cricket is a game of confidence. Age is a factor but that doesn't mean they have forgotten to play the game. You have to adjust," Kapil Dev said on Anil Singh's YouTube channel Cricket Adda
"You can talk to cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, them. Being big stars does not mean that somebody who has played less cricket than you can't tell you how to play. The coach may not be of your level but still you listen to him. Sometime, you can talk to outsiders," he added.
Kapil Dev believes fans' anger towards them is justified
The legendary cricketer Kapil Dev believes fans' anger towards the Indian stars is justified when they fail to perform.
"He (Rohit) is a big player. I hope he returns to form quickly. I will say good luck to the coach. It takes time to settle in. The whole country is looking forward to the side's performance. In the recent times, the side played well for some time. The team looks unsettled. When the captain's form is poor, the team has problems," Kapil Dev said.
"The team has not done well, it's justified that the fans are angry. When these players came back after winning the T20 World Cup, the crazy scenes, I have never seen in my life. So, when they do bad, criticism follows. That's what I say, don't praise the players so much, that they can't handle. And then criticise them below the belt. This is my thought," he added.
However, Rohit Sharma has roared back to form with a stunning hundred in the second ODI against England that made him the 10th-highest run-scorer in the ODIs. His century ensured that India gain an unbeatable 2-0 lead over the English side and that the third and final ODI which will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will be nothing but a dead rubber. However, Virat Kohli is yet to produce a big knock and fans will be hoping that the wait will come to an end in Ahmedabad.