"Pressure Will Be On Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma...": Gautam Gambhir's Warning 'If Batters Don't Put Runs' vs South Africa

23.12.2023 - 14:22 sports.ndtv.com

As India eye a first Test series win in South Africa, former opener Gautam Gambhir feels the pressure will be star batter Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma.

India have never won a Test series in South Africa, but came close to doing so during their last tour. After winning the first Test, India conceded the series 2-1, with Kohli missing the second Test due to an injury.

Gambhir reckons the onus will be on Rohit and Kohli to deliver the goods with the bat for India, adding that the star batters can take the pressure of the Indian bowlers on tricky South African conditions. "I believe the pressure will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli because they have that experience.

Bowlers definitely win you the series in South Africa but if your batters don't put runs on the board, you won't be able to create pressure for your bowlers," Gambhir said on Star Sports.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team India Cricket Team South Africa vs India on Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Marco Jansen Gautam Gambhir Star Sports South Africa India

A lot of debate took place over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's possible inclusion in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad but a return to T20I cricket after 14 months in the series against Afghanistan has possibly provided a sneak peek at what the Indian cricket team selectors are planning for the future. Both Rohit and Virat will be making their return to the shortest format of the sport after last playing in November 2022. While questions still remain over their T20 World Cup selection, Sunil Gavaskar backed both of them to make the cut even if they have an ordinary Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign.

India's Predicted XI vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I: Who Will Take Virat Kohli's Place?

Team India will be squaring off against Afghanistan in the first T20I of the three-match series on Thursday in Mohali. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who will be playing first T20I match since World Cup 2022, will be leading the side. However, star batter Virat Kohli, who was also returning to the shortest format along with Rohit, pulled out of the first game, due to personal reasons. Apart from this duo, this series will also mark a comeback of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson in T20I cricket.

Virat Kohli Will Not Play 1st T20I Against Afghanistan. India Coach Rahul Dravid Says Reason Is...

The buildup to the India vs Afghanistan T20I series has been all about the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma into the T20I format. The star batters last played a T20I match at the 2022 T20 World Cup, where India lost in the semi-finals. Since then they have been limited to ODIs and Tests. However, for the last T20I series that India will play before the 2024 T20 World Cup, the Indian cricket team management recalled both. However, at the pre-match press conference, Rahul Dravid revealed that Virat Kohli will not be playing the first T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday.

Will Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma's IPL Show Impact T20 World Cup 2024 Inclusion? Ex-Selector Reveals

The selectors have clearly gone for the status quo rather than addressing the elephant in the room by picking Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their first T20 series in 14 months. Will it have a bearing on India's chances in another T20 World Cup? Only time can tell. Having endured a heartbreak in the previous two editions of the T20 World Cup, the two greats of the game can't be faulted for wanting a final shot at glory in the format. But the same can't be said about the selectors, who picked a fresh bunch of players to take the team forward since the crushing semifinal loss to England in November 2022. Now that Rohit and Kohli have been picked for the home series against Afghanistan beginning on January 11, it is a given that the famed duo will be a part of India's squad for the ICC showpiece in the US and Caribbean in June.

On Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Playing In T20 World Cup 2024, Sourav Ganguly's 'Outstanding ' Take

Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday backed stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to feature in India's squad for the T20I World Cup in June. The duo, who have not featured in any T20I for about 14 months, have made themselves available for the sport's shortest format, and it remains to be seen if they are picked for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, beginning January 11 in Mohali. "Of course Rohit should captain the team in the T20I World Cup. Virat Kohli also should be there. Virat Kohli is an outstanding player, nothing will happen (to return after 14 months)," Ganguly added.

India vs South Africa: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's DRS Discussion In Second Test Has Internet In Splits For 'Wrong' Language

With just one wicket to go and three reviews remaining, the Indian cricket team decided to make use of their resources, although knowing that the result was unlikely to come in their favour. Mohammed Siraj hit South Africa's Nandre Burger high on the right right, on Day 2 of the second Test at Cape Town, but the umpire had little interest in rewarding Team India's appeal. However, realising that India have three DRS calls to spare, Rohit contemplated going for a review, after a brief discussion with teammates, but eventually decided against taking it.