Star Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has unequivocally supported veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, deeming the ongoing narrative of them needing to prove their worth as ‘laughable’. Ashwin highlighted their recent exceptional performances in the ODI series against South Africa as definitive proof of their current form.
Following their solid showings on the Australia tour, Rohit and Virat were back in scintillating form against South Africa on home soil. Rohit Sharma delivered two fluent half-centuries, adding to his previous century. Virat Kohli was in a league of his own, scoring consecutive centuries and ending the series as the ‘Player of the Series’ with a match-winning unbeaten knock.
“They have been playing so well. What else do you want? They played well in Australia, in bouncy and quick conditions,” Ashwin stated, questioning the relevance of any ongoing debates about their place. He lauded their dedication, citing Rohit’s fitness improvements and Virat’s sustained batting brilliance. “The fact that Rohit has worked on his fitness and come back, so props to him. The fact that Virat is batting as well as he is also shows the kind of work both of them have put in. The fact that both of them have to prove is itself a laughable thing. What do they need to prove?” Ashwin questioned, pointing to their consistent excellence.
Ashwin also pointed out specific moments of brilliance, including Virat’s signature ‘no-look six’ and Rohit’s commanding pull shot. Virat finished the ODI series as the highest run-scorer with 302 runs at an exceptional average of 151.00. Rohit also contributed significantly with 148 runs in three innings. Throughout the year, the ‘Ro-Ko’ duo have been India’s most prolific ODI scorers, with Virat tallying 651 runs and Rohit accumulating 650 runs, both showcasing high averages and impressive strike rates.