In post Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma era, ‘garden mey ghoomne waale log’ will have to take Test team forward
Couple of years ago Rohit Sharma snapped on the field during a Test match at the lack of intensity from his younger team-mates, “Yadi koi garden mey ghooma, toh sab ki …” It became an amusing viral meme, reenacted by him as a joke in talk shows and IPL franchise’s social-media content at various points. But in the moment, when it was said, it wasn’t a joke – he really was pissed off at the intensity. Now, with the Test retirements of both Rohit and Virat Kohli, Indian Test cricket is in the hands of those ‘garden mey ghoomne waale log’. Rohit’s retirement was nudged by selectors, but they weren’t ready for Kohli’s move, and suddenly Indian Test cricket is left with a highly inexperienced team and a novice captain in all likelihood. This isn’t just uncertainty left by the exit of two men whose auras were so big that they were the team’s identity. That happens with many sporting teams. The uncertainty is about the readiness of the younger lot in the oldest format. …