Life Without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma: A Matter Of Courage More Than Talent

India contemplated Test cricket without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on Monday after the star duo again failed to fire in the bruising series defeat to Australia. With out-of-form skipper Rohit missing, the visitors went down by six wickets in the fifth and final Test on Sunday in Sydney to lose the series 3-1. Fresh from a 3-0 home whitewash to New Zealand, the defeat sparked renewed debate in India about the future of the team and in particular two of its stalwarts.

The 37-year-old opening batsman Rohit, who missed the only India win of the series in the first Test because of the birth of his second child, managed 31 runs in three matches.

Kohli, 36, scored an unbeaten century in the first Test but otherwise had another underwhelming series by his sky-high standards.

Australia booked a meeting with South Africa in the World Test Championship final in June, after India lost out in the race with six Test losses in eight matches.

India's next Test assignment is their tour to England in June-July, when the visitors will play five matches and selectors will have to make a call on Kohli and Rohit.

"I think the next 8-10 days are crucial for Indian cricket to take a good, honest look at itself," former captain Sunil Gavaskar told news channel India Today.

"Most importantly, the star culture has to end. Total commitment to Indian cricket is non-negotiable.

"We don't need players who are partly here and partly elsewhere. It's time to stop pampering anyone."

Kohli skipped matches after the birth of his second child in February last year.

Apart from his century, Kohli scored 90 runs across eight innings.

Dubbed "King Kohli" for his prolific scoring, the batsman averaged above 54 before 2019, but from 2020 onwards his average has