Rohit Sharma continues to defend Virat Kohli after Lord’s failure

India skipper Rohit Sharma, once again, defended Virat Kohli's poor form with the bat after the second ODI against England on Thursday. Kohli only managed to score 16 runs before getting out to David Willey. Once again, the former India skipper is under media scrutiny due to his poor form. However. Sharma feels that there is no need for the debate on the Delhi player's form.

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"He has played so many matches. He is playing for so many years. He is such a great batsman so he does not need reassurance," Rohit said at the media briefing. "I pointed this in my last press conference, too: form goes up and down, that is part and parcel of any cricketer's career. So, a player like him, who has played for so many years, who has made so many runs, who has won so many matches, for him, he only needs one or two good innings . That is my thinking and I am sure all those who follow cricket will think similarly."

Rohit was yet again asked on Virat. And I am glad he said what he has. Good to see the captain back his top man. pic.twitter.com/OBtd4JHOFE

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 15, 2022

The Mumbaikar added that the team does have a discussion about Virat's form. The 35-year-old said that every player goes through ups and downs but the quality remains intact. He also asked the reporters to check Kohli's average, runs, centuries, etc. before saying such things.

"We do have chats about this topic, but we should also understand and think when we talk about such things. We have seen performance of all players goes up and down, but the quality of the player never gets worse. That we all should keep in mind. That is very important. Yaar, matlab, bande ne itne run banaya hai (he has made so many runs), check his average, how many hundreds he has made, he has experience of doing that. There is a slump in every player's life. Even in the personal life it comes."

Virat Kohli will play his last ODI on July 17 before going on break ahead the West Indies series.