'Whether you're Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma..': India Coach Opines On Stalwarts' Woeful Run in Tests

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have had a horrid run in the Test series against New Zealand. The star batsmen failed to step up when the team desperately needed them to shine, resulting in India losing a Test series at home after 12 years. The loss has put India's WTC Final aspirations in jeopardy as they are now required to win four of the six remaining tests in the cycle. As the stalwarts bear the burden of loss, a key position holder in the management staff has urged to keep the trust intact in Kohli and Sharma.

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Abhishek Nayar On Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar backed out-of-form legends Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma, saying that they must be given "space and time to come back". After suffering their first-ever Test series loss at home in 12 years, India will strive to salvage their pride when they clash with New Zealand in the third and final Test from Friday.

Playing on a track that assisted spinners, India lost the Pune Test by 113 runs. It is being speculated that the pitch at Wankhede Stadium here could again favour the spinners. Nayar refuted suggestions that turning tracks are being made at the behest of the team.

"I wish we could curate pitches, but we don't. The curators do. Whatever we're provided with, we go on and play (whether) that'd be a pitch that seamed or a pitch that turned. We don't try and get conditions according to what we want," Nayar said on eve of of the final Test.

Both Rohit and Kohli are woefully out of form, and that has impacted team's performance. Nayar said there is nothing wrong with the modern-day greats and all they need is just a bit of time and backing.

"I've seen nothing but love for them all over. When a top player, when someone who's been through the journey, goes through a lull, a lot of times it's about giving them their space and trusting that they will come back. They will put in the work,” he said.

"Everyone's worked really hard, everyone wants to do well, whether you're Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma or even someone as young as Shubman Gill. The effort is there." "Sometimes, sometimes you've got to be a little patient, even with the greatest of players, and they can have tough times. I'm pretty sure sooner rather than later, we'll have more to praise about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and everyone else as well," he said.

(With PTI inputs)