Sipu Jha
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma deserve special treatment for their years of contribution, and their place in India’s ODI setup should never have been questioned, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While the national selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir may be cautious about whether the senior duo can maintain form and fitness until the 2027 World Cup, the numbers from the recent ODIs tell a different story — between them, Kohli and Rohit have scored three centuries (two by Kohli) and five half-centuries (three by Rohit) in their last six innings.
“I don’t think the place of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the team should have been a question. Look at what they have done over so many years,” Bangar told JioStar.Since ODIs are played less frequently, Bangar feels it is natural for top players to need time to adjust, but insists that Kohli and Rohit have earned that allowance through long-term excellence.“They have retired from two formats, so it’s obvious they might take just a couple of sessions to get back into action, because they have done it so often. They don’t need to play as many matches as a younger player.“Once they are there, once they are hungry and fit, you want players of that quality. You have to treat them differently and give them space,” he added, stressing the need for a separate evaluation standard for the two white-ball icons.In the recently concluded series against South Africa, 38-year-old Rohit struck 57 and 75, while 37-year-old Kohli — named Player of the Series — produced scores of 135, 102 and 65 not out.“When they are on song, you see the difference. Their sheer presence changes the dressing room atmosphere.”Bangar, who has also worked closely with Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, believes the senior pair would have played an important role in lifting the group’s morale after the Test series defeat to South Africa.“After the humiliating loss in the Test series, they must have spoken to the boys. They helped put things behind and play with freedom and authority, giving the whole team supreme confidence.”
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