'Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma future being decided by people who have not achieved much': Harbhajan Singh

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (BCCI Photo)

Expecting Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to carry on till the 2027 ODI World Cup, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh considers it a bit unfair that the future of the legendary duo is being decided by "people who have not achieved much". Rohit, 38, and Kohli, 37, only play the ODI format presently and there has been great discussion on whether they would be able to continue till the World Cup in South Africa considering the smaller ODI calendar across the cricket-playing world.

Even though the two stalwarts have given adequate indications to suggest that they aim to fight for their position, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar have been non-committal on the prospect.

"It is beyond our understanding. I may not be able to answer because I have been a player myself, and what I have seen has happened to me as well. It has happened to many of my teammates, but it is very unfortunate. We don't talk about it or have a discussion about it," Harbhajan, part of the expert commentary panel at the ongoing ILT20 Season 4, said in an interaction in Sharjah.

"I am so happy when I see a player like Virat Kohli who is still going strong. It is a bit unfortunate that those people are deciding about their future who have not achieved much," India's fourth-highest Test wicket-taker with 417 scalps added when asked whether the two are being handled well.

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There is still over a year remaining before the first ball is bowled at the World Cup but Harbhajan has backed Rohit and Kohli to be in dominant form during the showpiece event and establish milestones for the next generation.

A slimmer Rohit has amassed two fifties and a 121 not-out in his previous four innings, while Kohli has smashed consecutive hundreds at home in the ongoing South Africa series.

"They have always scored runs and have always been great players for India, they have done extremely well as batters and are leaders of the team. I'm so happy for them, they are going very, very strong. Not just going strong but setting the example for the younger generation to follow and what it takes to be a champion. So, well done Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for setting the right example," the 45-year-old added.

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Observers of the game are astonished by India's recent home Test woes. India have lost five of their last seven home Test matches since Gambhir was appointed, including the most recent 0-2 loss to South Africa, which was their first home series loss to the Proteas in 25 years.

According to Harbhajan, the quality of home pitches is India's top worry. "They have to start playing on good tracks. We don't give much chance to our batsmen to make runs. If we tour abroad our batsmen have a chance to make runs because the pitch is good for batting. The bowlers have to work hard.

"That is why I think it is high time that the pitches that have been made in the last 10-12 years are very bowler-friendly especially spinner-friendly. Spinners bowl with the new ball. I think somewhere we need to change that trend.

"I feel it is not the right kind of thing to do. Our team is so solid and we have played well in England. We will win even if we play for five days. Why are you looking to play two and half days of Test cricket?" he wondered.

On the Guwahati Test, that lasted full five days, he added: "We saw in Guwahati that the pitch was very good but there we didn't play well on that pitch because we are not used to playing for five days in Test cricket."

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According to Harbhajan, tracks like the one utilised in the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata will exacerbate issues because modern cricketers lack patience due to their extensive exposure to T20 cricket. "...barring two or three of them, the others don't really have that much patience anymore. If we will continue to play on such tracks...it is no more interesting for anyone."

Harbhajan further said India can't produce a strike spinner on under-prepared rank-turners. "We have done a lot of bowling, we understand a little bit of cricket which we have learnt in 20 years. I feel it's high time we start playing on good tracks in India, simple as that."