NEW DELHI: India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar on Wednesday urged fans and critics alike to show patience with out-of-form legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the two veteran players face a rough patch in their form, emphasising that they must be given 'space and time to come back'.
After suffering their first home Test series loss in 12 years, India will look to restore their pride in the third and final Test against New Zealand, starting on Friday in Mumbai.
Both Rohit and Kohli are struggling with their form, which has affected the team's overall performance. Nayar emphasised that there is nothing inherently wrong with these modern-day greats; all they need is a little time and support to regain their best form.
"I've seen nothing but love for them all over. When a top player, when someone who's been through the journey, goes through a lull, a lot of times it's about giving them their space and trusting that they will come back. They will put in the work," Nayar said ahead of the final Test.
"Everyone's worked really hard, everyone wants to do well, whether you're Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma or even someone as young as Shubman Gill. The effort is there."
"The approach is great. I feel they're putting in the hard yards. Sometimes, sometimes you've got to be a little patient, even with the greatest of players, and they can have tough times. I'm pretty sure sooner rather than later, we'll have more to praise about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and everyone else as well. (We need to have) just a bit of patience," he said.
India lost the second Test by 113 runs on a spin-friendly track in Pune. Speculation suggests that the pitch at Wankhede Stadium may once again be spinner-friendly, setting the stage for an intriguing contest.
Nayar categorically dismissed claims that turning tracks are being prepared to suit the team's preferences.
"I wish we could curate pitches, but we don't. The curators do. Whatever we're provided with, we go on and play (whether) that'd be a pitch that seamed or a pitch that turned," Nayar said.
"As cricketers and as a team, we try to play what we're provided with. We don't try to get conditions according to what we want."
