Indian captain Rohit Sharma made a significant statement after the team’s triumph. He claimed only players possessing hunger for the red-ball format receive opportunities. Segregating cricketers with passion for Test cricket from those without is effortless, he asserted. Currently, all players exhibit the desired qualities.
While Rohit Sharma did not name names, it is worth noting that Ishan Kishan withdrew from the last Test series in South Africa for personal reasons. Hardik Pandya who is the all-rounder of Indian team has not played red-ball game for India since the 2018 tour of England.
Dhruv Jurel, Uttar Pradesh’s wicketkeeper, and Sarfaraz Khan, Mumbai’s middle-order batsman, have both contributed significantly to the present Test series against England. Rohit Sharma praised India’s young players for their performance in the series triumph over England, emphasizing the necessity of having the appropriate attitude to play the traditional style.
“This [Test cricket] is the toughest format. And if you want success and want to excel in this tough format then you need that hunger. It is very important. We will give opportunity only to players who have that hunger. You come to know the players who don’t have that hunger, or players who don’t want to stay here.”
“Players who have that hunger, players who want to stay here and perform, play in tough conditions; we will give preference to them. Obviously, it is pretty simple: if you don’t have hunger, there’s no meaning playing such players.”
Rohit Sharma
While adding that there appears to be no issue with enthusiasm and determination among the existing group, Rohit made it plain that performers will be given priority.
“At present I don’t see anyone who doesn’t have that hunger: those who are here in the squad and even those who are not here – every one of them wants to play. But the opportunities at this level come very few times. If you don’t utilize that opportunity, then you lose that chance. We all have experienced that. So those players who utilize the opportunities, who make the team win, who perform for the team, obviously that is noted. That is very important.”
Rohit Sharma
While Sarfaraz achieved half-centuries in both innings of his first Test in Rajkot, Jurel was named Player of the Match after scoring 90 and 39* in Ranchi.
“IPL is for us no doubt a good format, but Test cricket is most difficult” – Rohit Sharma
Since the phenomenal success of the Indian Premier League (IPL), there has been rising worry over certain players’ lack of enthusiasm in red-ball cricket. Recently, the BCCI issued a diktat to centrally contracted players, reminding them of the dangers of disregarding domestic red ball cricket.
Rohit Sharma expressed his opinion on the IPL vs red-ball cricket debate:
“IPL is for us no doubt a good format, but Test cricket is the most difficult format: to achieve success and perform here is not so easy.”
Rohit Sharma
He went on to compliment the young players for working hard in domestic cricket and then translating that experience into vital Test performances.
“We have seen in these four Tests we have played, the three wins we got were not easy. We had to work hard, batsmen had to spend ample time in the middle, bowlers had to deliver longer spells. So this is a format that involves hard work.”
“All the hard work that they have done in the past, in the growing-up years, coming through the whole circuit of playing domestic cricket, playing the local club cricket and performing there, and then coming here… Obviously it’s a big challenge to play Test cricket. We all know that. But these guys, when I look at them, when I talk to them, the responses that I get from them is quite encouraging.”
Rohit Sharma
After losing the first Test in Hyderabad by 28 runs, India rallied to win the next three Tests and continue their undefeated home streak.