"His footwork isn't the same" - Former coach makes huge statement on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's future on Day 5 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri believes skipper Rohit Sharma will have to make a call on his Test career after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. However, Shastri opined that Virat Kohli could continue to play for another three to four years.

Rohit has had a difficult run with the bat so far in the series. The right-hander has accumulated only 31 runs in three Tests, averaging a dismal 6.20. The 37-year-old averages below 25 in Tests this year, leading to talks about his retirement from the longest format of the game.

Shastri also spoke on similar lines, highlighting that his footwork isn't the same anymore. The comment came after Rohit was dismissed by Pat Cummins for nine runs in India's second innings of the ongoing Boxing Day Test.

"As far as Rohit is concerned, it’s a call. At the top of the order, his footwork isn’t the same. He is probably, at times, a little late in meeting the ball. So it’s his call at the end of the series," Shastri told Star Sports (via India Today).

Kohli has also largely struggled in the series barring the hundred in the second innings of the Perth Test. The outside-of-the-off-stump line has once again come to haunt him, including the Boxing Day Test. The Delhi-born cricketer has accumulated 167 runs in four games at an average of 27.83.

Despite the awful run of form, Shastri reckoned that Virat Kohli will play for a few more years. He said:

"No, I think Virat Kohli will play. Virat will play for some time, forget the way he got out today. I think he will play for 3 or 4 more years."

Rohit and Kohli's poor form has often put the middle order under pressure in the ongoing series. Currently, Team India are fighting to save the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The visitors are currently at 112/3, with Yashsvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant in the middle. They need to bat for another 38 overs to save the Test or gun down 228 runs to win the match.

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Ravi Shastri opens up on Rohit Sharma's struggles

The former cricketer-turned-commentator offered his support to the struggling Rohit Sharma, saying that the latter had no options against a relentless Aussie bowling attack.

"This is the mode of dismissal. Rohit Sharma, at his best, that front foot would be closer to the pitch of the ball. There’s a trigger movement and then the front foot stays planted. So the bat goes at the ball, so you are playing away from the body," Shastri explained in the same interview.

"They have bowled well at him. You can say ‘try and attack the bowling’. But, they gave you nothing. This is the best I think Australia have bowled in one spell as a unit," he added.

The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1 and a World Test Championship final spot beckons both teams.