"Makes you doubt his all-time greatness" - Former India batter makes huge statement on Virat Kohli's failures in BGT 2024-25

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has slammed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma over their consistent failures in BGT 2024-25. Reacting to their dismissals on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test, Manjrekar said that Kohli's all-time greatness could be under doubt, while Rohit played a stroke that was inexcusable.

Team India went down to Australia by 184 runs in Melbourne in the fourth Test of the five-match series on Monday, December 30. Chasing 340, the visitors were bowled out for 155 in 79.1 overs. Rohit (9) was caught at gully, attempting a whip off Pat Cummins. Kohli (5) yet again perished chasing a wide ball outside the off stump from Mitchell Starc.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after India's disappointing batting effort, Manjrekar questioned the shot selection from both of India's senior batters. He commented:

"Rohit Sharma, the shot that he played after playing so well, I don't think there's an excuse for that. That has to be looked at as a mistake. That Virat Kohli keeps getting out in this fashion makes you doubt his all-time greatness because it is just becoming a bit too much."

After India lost three wickets for 33 runs, Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) and Rishabh Pant (30) lifted the visitors with a fourth-wicket stand of 88. However, the latter perished to part-time spinner Travis Head, miscuing an attempted pull. While Pant came in for a lot of criticism over his choice of stroke, Manjrekar wondered whether India were making an outside attempt at chasing the target. The 59-year-old said:

"As for Pant, I just wonder, in that last session, because India had so many wickets in hand, whether there was some talk. In the press conference, Rohit Sharma alluded to it that. With wickets in hand, they thought they could make one attempt with Pant out there and see if things happen - some miraculous recovery could happen. If that wasn't the case, they could play out for a draw."

India's batting crumbled after Pant's exit as they went from 121-4 to 155 all-out. For Australia, skipper Cummins and pacer Scott Boland picked up three wickets each, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon chipped in with two.

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Kohli, Rohit's stats in BGT 2024-25

Kohli has managed just 167 runs in seven innings in BGT 2024-25 so far, averaging 27.83. He scored a hundred in the second innings of the Perth Test but barring that has done precious little of note. He reached 36 in the first innings in Melbourne but seemed to get rattled by Jaiswal's run-out and perished soon after, yet again playing a loose stroke outside off.

Rohit, who missed the first Test, has only managed 31 runs in five innings at a dismal average of 6.20, with a best of 10. He has not looked in any kind of batting rhythm at all across the three Test matches that he has been part of.