Rohit Could’ve Achieved What Virat Did in His Test Career: Ashwin
The news of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test retirement sent shockwaves across the cricketing world. While both players had illustrious careers, their paths to success were vastly different. Ex-India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who played alongside both players, recently shared his thoughts on their contrasting careers. In an interview, Ashwin praised Rohit and Virat, saying they had “very illustrious careers”. However, he also believed that Rohit could have achieved what Virat did in his Test career.
Ashwin began by discussing Rohit’s career, pointing out that he missed a crucial debut and didn’t play for four straight years. He made his Test debut in 2013, which Ashwin believes had a significant impact on his career. “Rohit missed a crucial debut; he couldn’t play 100 Tests. He didn’t play for four straight years, and then he made his debut in 2013,” Ashwin explained. This gap in his career meant that Rohit didn’t have the same level of experience as Virat, who made his debut in 2011.
Despite the challenges he faced, Rohit went on to have a successful Test career, scoring over 3,800 runs at an average of 52.59. He holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in Test cricket, with an unbeaten 264 against South Africa in 2019. However, Ashwin believes that Rohit could have achieved even more if he had been given the same opportunities as Virat.
Virat, on the other hand, made his debut in 2011 and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant batsmen in the world. He went on to become the first Indian captain to score 7,000 runs in Test cricket and holds the record for the most Test wins as captain by an Indian. Ashwin believes that Virat’s early success and consistent performances helped him build a strong foundation for his career.
“Virat was a bit more fortunate in the sense that he got a chance to play regularly from the start,” Ashwin said. “He played a lot of Tests, and he was always in the team. He had a very consistent run, and that gave him a chance to develop his skills and build his confidence.” Ashwin believes that Rohit’s lack of consistent opportunities early in his career hindered his development as a Test batsman.
Despite the differences in their careers, Ashwin believes that both Rohit and Virat have been fantastic players for India. “They are two contrasting characters, but they have both had very illustrious careers,” Ashwin said. “Rohit has been an incredible player, and Virat has been an incredible captain. They have both given their everything to the game, and that’s what matters most.”
Ashwin’s comments highlight the complexities of Rohit’s career, which was marked by both incredible success and significant challenges. Despite the obstacles he faced, Rohit went on to become one of the most successful batsmen in Indian cricket history. However, Ashwin believes that Rohit could have achieved even more if he had been given the same opportunities as Virat.
In conclusion, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test retirements mark the end of an era in Indian cricket. Both players have had illustrious careers, but their paths to success were vastly different. While Rohit’s career was marked by challenges and setbacks, Virat’s career was marked by consistent success and dominance. Ashwin’s comments highlight the importance of early opportunities and consistent performances in building a successful career in Test cricket.
