"Rohit Sharma has actually fared a little better" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's record in last 4 years

Aakash Chopra pointed out that Virat Kohli once again fell prey to a delivery outside the off-stump in India's first innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fifth Test. He highlighted that the ace Indian batter has been retained in the XI despite having an inferior record than Rohit Sharma in the last four years.

Kohli scored 17 runs off 69 deliveries as India were bowled out for 185 on Day 1 (Friday, January 3) of the final Test against Australia in Sydney. The hosts ended the day at 9/1 in their first innings, with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Usman Khawaja off the final delivery.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the cricketer-turned-commentator reflected on India's batting collapse. As for Kohli continuing his lean run, he said (8:20):

"Virat Kohli again got out outside off. It's been an entire series. You might say that I should talk more about (Shubman) Gill but he didn't play the first and fourth Tests. He has played two or three knocks and there also he looked decent. Yashasvi Jaiswal was wow in the last Test match and (KL) Rahul has had a decent series."

"There are a lot of expectations from Virat Kohli. He has scored a hundred for sure but he hasn't scored the runs after that. He is with the bowlers if you see the first-innings average in 2024. Rohit Sharma has made himself sit out. Of course, his form has gone drastically but if you see the last four years, Rohit Sharma has actually fared a little better," Chopra added.

Virat Kohli has aggregated 1906 runs at an average of 32.30 in 36 Tests since the beginning of 2021. Rohit Sharma has scored 2160 runs at a better average of 36.00 in 35 Tests in the same period.

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"Shubman Gill got out to spin and that should hurt" - Aakash Chopra

Shubman Gill was caught at first slip off Nathan Lyon's bowling. [P/C: Getty]

Reflecting on the rest of the Indian batting in the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Shubman Gill's dismissal should hurt.

"Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul got out at the start. After that, Shubman Gill got out to spin and that should hurt. It's okay to get out to a fast bowler on this pitch. I am not denying that Nathan Lyon is a good bowler but Shubman Gill is a much better player than that. He shouldn't get out against spin on such a pitch," he reasoned.

While praising Rishabh Pant for playing a fighting knock, the former India opener noted that Washington Sundar was given out slightly controversially.

"Rishabh Pant tried to play differently. Probably his playing style changed based on what he had been told. However, he got out and Nitish Kumar Reddy got out off the next ball. Washington Sundar was fighting well. Again 50-50 on that dismissal also, especially since the on-field umpire's decision was reversed," Chopra observed.

Rishabh Pant top-scored for India with a 98-ball 40. Ravindra Jadeja (26), Jasprit Bumrah (22) and Shubman Gill (20) were the only other Indian players to reach 20.