India head coach Gautam Gambhir highlighted the struggles of senior batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following India’s six-wicket defeat in Sydney, where Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade.

The defeat also marked the end of the 2023-25 ​​WTC cycle for India, leaving questions over Rohit and Kohli’s roles in the Test setup.

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Rohit had a disastrous series, scoring just 31 runs in Australia at an average of 6.20, the worst figure ever recorded by a visiting captain. His longest record in red-ball cricket has also been disappointing recently, with just 164 runs in 15 innings during the period.

Kohli fared little better, scoring 382 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.5, but struggled against off-stump deliveries, being dismissed that way seven times in eight innings on the tour.

Importance of domestic cricket for Indian senior players

In the post-match presentation, Gambhir emphasized the importance of domestic cricket in building a strong foundation for Test success, pointing out the need for senior players to participate in these competitions. Interestingly, both Rohit and Kohli have stayed away from domestic cricket for almost a decade.

“I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket. That is the importance that should be given to domestic cricket,” Gambhir said.

Virat Kohli last played domestic cricket during the 2012/13 Ranji Trophy, representing Delhi against Uttar Pradesh.

Similarly, Rohit’s last domestic appearance was in the 2016 Duleep Trophy for India Blue, while his last Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai was in the 2015/16 season, where he scored a brilliant 113 against Uttar Pradesh.

This absence from domestic cricket has not only reduced his exposure to first-class conditions but has also limited his opportunities to regain form and adapt to longer format challenges.

Gambhir’s suggestion highlights the value of domestic cricket for senior players to stay match-ready and develop resilience in red-ball conditions.

“Not just one game, if they are available and committed to playing red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket. If you don’t give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired results in Test cricket,” he added.

Gambhir calls for change in approach to red-ball cricket

India’s batting struggles were evident throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They were dismissed for less than 200 in six of nine innings, marking their worst performance ever by an Indian team on a tour of Australia.

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Gambhir has identified temperament and the ability to overcome difficult situations as key areas for improvement.

“A little bit of it could be due to the wickets, but it happened in India too. It all comes down to temperament. How much do you want to play those tough times, how much do you want to push yourself in Test cricket and then it’s about playing sessions in the longer format? That is an issue we must work on,” he added.

Whether Rohit and Virat adapt to these demands and participate in domestic cricket could be key to their future in the Test set-up. Gambhir’s comments underline the need for both older and younger players to embrace the fundamentals of red-ball cricket to regain dominance in the format.

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