IND vs SL 2023: We should be equally hard on Rohit Sharma as we were on Virat Kohli – Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels Rohit Sharma should receive the same criticism that Virat Kohli received when he was out of form. Rohit scored a good knock of 83 runs in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The Indian skipper scored 17 runs in the second game and then gathered 42 runs in the third ODI at the batting paradise in Trivandrum.

Gambhir added Rohit would have been kicking himself after he missed out in the third game. Rohit didn’t have a great run in 2022 and also could not deliver the goods as a batter in the T20 World Cup.

The Indian captain holds the key for the team at the top of the order and his form is going to be crucial in the upcoming ODI World Cup, which is to be played later in the year.

Rohit scored 142 runs in three matches against Sri Lanka and he would have liked to score more runs against a depleted opposition.

“I think we should talk to him in the same space like we used to when Virat didn’t get a 100 in last three and a half years. So we should be equally hard on Rohit Sharma because 50 innings in international cricket is quite a lot. It’s not you didn’t get a 100 in one or two series, and that is one thing that is missing in Rohit’s game from the last World Cup,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports.

Gambhir wants Rohit Sharma to convert his starts into big scores in the upcoming matches.

“He used to get those big 100s, this time he’s looking in good form, he’s hitting the ball well but he has to convert. One thing that has stood out for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and Virat has got it back, Rohit Sharma needs to get it back at least before the World Cup because these two guys will be extremely important if India has to go all the way and win the World Cup,” he added.

Meanwhile, India went on to win the series by 3-0 and there were a lot of positives for the home team. Shubman Gill scored a fine hundred in the third game whereas Virat Kohli scored two centuries in the series. Furthermore, Mohammed Siraj took a total of nine wickets in the series as he bowled at the top of his game.

India will next take on New Zealand in three-match ODI series.