Geoffrey Boycott, who is regarded as one of the greatest England batters of all time, took a major swipe at India captain Rohit Sharma after the Three Lions' victory in the Hyderabad Test. Boycott, in his assessment, said that the 37-year-old Rohit is past his best and his quick cameos don't help the team, especially in Test cricket. The Hitman scored 24 runs and 39 runs in two innings during the 1st Test match against England, which India ended up losing by 28 runs.
Boycott also highlighted that the absence of Virat Kohli and injured Ravindra Jadeja is a huge setback for India as the team now prepares to square off against England in the second Test in Visakhapatnam, scheduled to begin on February 2.
"India badly miss Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja has a hamstring injury and will not play the second Test. Their captain Rohit Sharma is nearly 37 and past his best. He makes pretty cameos but has scored only two Test hundreds at home in four years," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
Talking about Rohit, the Indian skipper has been guilty of not converting his starts into big scores, something that the Hitman was known for early in his career. In his last 12 Tests, Rohit has managed to score only two centuries.
With absence of Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, England have golden chance to win Test series
Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, two of India's biggest match-winners, will not feature in the upcoming Test match against England. Kohli took a break until the second Test owing to personal reasons while Jadeja suffered a hamstring injury in the Hyderabad Test against the Three Lions.
Boycott strongly believes that Ben Stokes' England have a stupendous chance to register a Test series win in India, especially with Rohit Sharma's team battered by the absence of some key players.
"Jadeja is a huge blow. He is a great all-rounder, top bowler, brilliant fielder and was their best batsman in the first Test. Kohli is their talisman. He is a magnificent batsman who averages 60 on Indian pitches but he also gives them great energy in the field. He is a big loss and England must make the most of it before he comes back for the third Test," Boycott opined.
"Once in a while a team are in the right place at the right time to clinch a big series win and England could be in that position right now in India. India are due a defeat at home, the signs are good as they have lost Kohli, Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant and are playing opponents full of confidence after a remarkable win. England must take this rare opportunity," he added.
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