Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma averaged less than 25 in test cricket in 2024.
The last test season was disastrous for the Indian cricket team. India suffered a historic whitewash at home against New Zealand, and it was followed by a 3-1 series loss in Australia.
India’s strong home legacy was ripped apart by the Kiwis, while Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade.
India’s batting was the major point of concern in these losses. Senior players and two main pillars in the batting department, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, had disappointing seasons.
In the last three series – against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia – Rohit scored 164 runs at an average of 10.93 and Kohli scored 382 runs at 22. Kohli managed a century and a fifty, and Rohit hit only one fifty. Barring the century in Perth from Kohli, both of them struggled terribly against New Zealand and Australia.
In Australia, Rohit batted both in the middle-order and at the top but failed in both positions. Meanwhile, Kohli was dismissed caught behind by wicket-keeper or in the cordon in all his eight dismissals in Australia.
The duo’s poor form has sparked a debate about whether they should return to domestic cricket to regain their touch. Several legends, including Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan, have openly discussed the importance of playing domestic cricket when there’s no international cricket.
On that note, let’s see when was the last time Kohli and Rohit played in the Ranji Trophy, India’s most prestigious red-ball domestic competition.
When was the last time Virat Kohli played in Ranji Trophy?
Kohli’s last appearance in the Ranji Trophy was in November 2012, for Delhi against Uttar Pradesh, where he scored 14 runs in the first innings and 43 runs in the second.
Since then, Kohli became a first-choice member of the test side and has not played red-ball domestic cricket for Delhi for 12 years.
When was the last time Rohit Sharma played in Ranji Trophy?
Rohit’s last Ranji Trophy appearance for Mumbai was during the 2015/16 season against Uttar Pradesh. Fighting for his spot in the Indian team, he played a fluent knock of 113 runs off 140 balls.
His last domestic red-ball game was in the 2016 Duleep Trophy for India Blue.
Both Rohit and Kohli skipped the Duleep Trophy last season ahead of the Bangladesh test series.
