“There is no other option….” Former Indian cricketer gives massive advice to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

The absence of domestic cricket taunts has always seemed to irritate the seniors of the Indian cricket team, particularly since they have not toned down their criticism post the 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand. There are still voices who think that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli would have gained had they chosen to play in the Duleep Trophy. Some even go so far as to say that the pair should take part in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif also bears an identical opinion with him, saying the big names should divorce themselves from their luxurious vehicles, airplanes and priority services and return back to playing domestic cricket instead.

In the Ranji Trophy, it is expected that Delhi will play an away match against Chandigarh while Mumbai is to receive Odisha in the new round of matches. The Indian team does not fly to Australia before the week is finished. Thus, some players, according to Kaif, must come forward to play in the Ranji Trophy.

“There is no other option. They require practice and it is imported that they spend time batting there. Should they, fortunately or unfortunately, manage to score a century, it will be of great benefit and uplift them high,” Kaif said in one of the videos posted on social networking sites.

Kaif further drew attention – via social networks – to Rishabh Pant in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020 series in which the keeper-batter had just scored a century in a practice game before stepping onto the field and created history for India in Australia.

“Let me remind you of Rishabh Pant in this case. He was the one to score the winning run in Gabba, but to everyone’s surprise, Pant was not in the ODI or the T20I squad for that particular tour. He went only for the Test series for which Wriddhiman Saha was ahead of him in the pecking order. But that was about the time when India was inflicted with that ’36 all out’ and we lost the game, was it not? Pant was brought back into the squad. But mind you, there was a reason he was playing for the team on that tour. There was this practice game and I think it was a Pink Ball practice match where he scored a hundred and that’s why he was given the spot in the 11 so he was completely a different player then.”

Kaif has advised the likes of Kohli, Rohit and others to stop behaving as if they are VIPs and play some domestic cricket for a change if they are to turn the tide of their form.

“People who have these ideas of themselves as players who bagged runs but did not get much of a chance must be strongly advised; they must play domestic cricket without fail. Eschew such notions as the big cars, airplanes or the idea of being a celebrity as they will not be present them. If you want to look for your batting rhythm, that is the way to go,” he asserted.