Former India batsman Aakash Chopra got a bit of flak from fans on social media for opining that Rohit Sharma scores runs on tough pitches when everyone else fails.
As the year concludes on Sunday, Chopra uploaded a video on his YouTube channel in which he named his best Test XI of the year 2023.
His two openers were Usman Khawaja, who is the leading Test run-scorer of 2023, and Rohit Sharma, who averaged 41 in 8 Test matches this year, notching up 2 centuries and 2 fifties. Chopra mentioned that Rohit batted well in the home Test series against Australia this year, however, Virat Kohli and Axar Patel scored more runs and had better averages than Rohit in that series. Rohit also failed in big games this year – the WTC 2023 final vs Australia and the Centurion Test vs South Africa.
Chopra said: “When others struggles on tough, bad pitches, Rohit Sharma scores runs. He scored runs against Australia on bad pitches; yes, spin conditions – he is one of my openers in Tests in 2023”.
Thus, Chopra’s comments that Rohit scores runs on tough pitches while others falter attracted arguments and trolling of the former opener.
Fans troll Aakash Chopra for saying “Rohit Sharma scores when others struggles”
Why only Indian paid ex cricketers rate this clown in test cricket? No expert from outside india rate him as a test batter. Money power
— 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 (@bholination) December 31, 2023
India struggles on tough pitch of South Africa then rohit played beautiful inning of 8 deliveries pic.twitter.com/J6G1nnGbSx
— ANANT 🇮🇳 (@Akk_vk18) December 31, 2023
Meanwhile, another former India batsman, Subramaniam Badrinath, has launched a scathing attack on Rohit Sharma following the India skipper’s poor performance as a batsman and captain in the Centurion Test, which India lost by an innings, while Virat Kohli saved some face for the team with a fighting knock in the second innings.
Badrinath said: “Why is he (Virat) not the captain of the Test team? I want to raise this valid question. He is a better test batter. There is no comparison between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He is a big player in terms of Test cricket. He has scored runs everywhere. Why is he not leading and a weaker player?
“As far as I am concerned, a weaker player who is not yet proven as an opener. He has been in and out. We can consider all of that. But I think Rohit Sharma has not proven himself as an opener outside India. Why is he there?”
Also Read: “2023 Was The Best Year For Virat Kohli In His Career,” Says Former India Pacer
