England pacer Tymal Mills has spoken about the struggles of Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the upcoming white-ball series between the two teams. Tymal Mills is confident that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will bounce back after their recent struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Virat and Rohit were heavily criticized for their disappointing performance in India's 1-3 loss to Australia. With harsh reactions from pundits, both players will face significant pressure heading into the upcoming white-ball series against England as they prepare for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
They've been through hard times before and come out the other side – Tymal Mills
Tymal Mills admitted that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faced tough times before and managed to bounce back, adding that they will regain their form. However, he hoped that would not happen against England. Mills also mentioned that he wouldn't be surprised if they start scoring again soon.
“They've been through tough times before and come out the other side and they'll know what they have to do to come out the other side (once again). Hopefully not too much against England, but you will” Don't be surprised to see both of them scoring runs again,” he said in an interview with the Times of India.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's recent struggles in Test cricket
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's struggles with the bat contributed significantly to India's defeat in Australia. Rohit managed just 31 runs in three Tests and five innings at a poor average of 6.20 and his highest score being just 10. As captain, Rohit led the team in three Tests but India lost two of them.
Kohli scored an unbeaten century in the first Test but managed just 90 runs in the next four Tests, finishing with 190 runs at an average of 23.75. His repeated dismissals for off-stump deliveries led to criticism.
The Indian skipper ended 2024 with 619 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 24.76 with two centuries, both against England. Kohli, meanwhile, scored 417 runs at an average of 24.52 from 19 innings in 2024.
Because they are two of the best players to ever play – Tymal Mills
Tymal Mills said the successful careers of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were no fluke. He stated that their reputation for consistently scoring runs is a testament to their skill and determination. Mills believes their experience allows them to handle both good and bad patches in their careers.
“You don't get the reputation of scoring the number of runs these guys (Virat and Rohit) have scored in their career just by luck. It's because they're two of the best players to ever play (the sport). they will be able to travel better than anyone else and obviously have a lot of confidence in their abilities,” added Mills.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to return to action in India's three-match ODI series against England in February. After the series against England, India have no more ODI matches scheduled before the Champions Trophy.
Read also: Nathan Lyon ruled out of Sri Lanka tour? Spinner's 'painful' hip injury revealed