'I am not overly concerned' - Deep Dasgupta on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's form

In the first half of the Indian Premier League 2022, there have been close matches and the tournament is certainly heading to an exciting route as the business end arrives. Teams like Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) have been terrific with their performance and now need just a couple of wins to confirm their entry into the playoffs. However, Mumbai Indians (MI) have been disappointing with no wins in eight appearances, and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) falling off the top with average performances in the fifth week of the ongoing season.

The two key players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not delivered well for MI and RCB respectively and failed to live up to the expectations. Rohit has 153 runs in eight games at an average of 19.13 and 41 being his highest score. On the other hand, Kohli has garnered only 128 runs in nine appearances at an average of 16, with the top score of 48. Both the players have been quiet after playing their best innings, which has not helped the team’s cause.

It’s a little different when you play for a country: Deep Dasgupta

On being asked about India’s mainstay’s form in the IPL is a matter of concern or not, Dasgupta reckoned that although Rohit and Kohli are not in proper form, he is not concerned because the situations are different, when you feature for your international team, as compared to the franchise cricket in the IPL. He reckons it is a good six-month gap for the World Cup and hopes both the experienced players get back to form during the bilateral series or the Asia Cup.

“Yes Rohit and Virat have not yet fired in the season, but am I concerned, not overly but you would want them in good form with World Cup coming up in October, and in a few months time, you would surely want them back in form. I am not overly concerned, in the sense, because it’s little different when you play for your country and when you playing for the franchise and also the World Cup is not absolutely straight after the IPL, It would be a six-month gap, where you will be playing Asia Cup and bilateral series, so there are a lot of games before the World Cup and I am not overly concerned,” Deep Dasgupta said on CricTracker’s ‘Not Just Cricket’ show presented by Sky247.net.