Madan Lal Praises Kohli and Rohit's Impact on Domestic Cricket
The Influence of Senior Players in Domestic Tournaments
In Noida, Uttar Pradesh, former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has expressed admiration for the involvement of seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in domestic cricket. He believes their presence not only elevates the quality of the competition but also serves as a source of inspiration for fans and aspiring cricketers.
“The participation of star players in domestic matches draws significant crowds. Both Virat and Rohit take immense pride in their performances, whether on the domestic or international stage, which is a testament to their greatness,” Lal remarked regarding their roles in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Kohli and Rohit, two of India's most celebrated batsmen, recently showcased their skills while representing their state teams. Kohli's impressive innings of 131 runs off 101 balls led Delhi to a four-wicket win over Andhra Pradesh in Bengaluru. His performance highlighted his skill and determination, guiding Delhi through a challenging chase.
On the other hand, Rohit delivered a spectacular performance for Mumbai, scoring an unbeaten 155 runs from just 94 balls to secure victory against Sikkim. His commanding display against the bowling attack emphasized his prowess and ability to perform at a high level, even in domestic cricket.
During the match in Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium, fans cheered for the 'Hitman' as Sikkim set a target of 236 runs, with Ashish Thapa leading their scoring with 79 runs off 87 balls. Rohit quickly dismantled the target, achieving his 155 runs with 18 fours and nine sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 164.89. His teammates Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Musheer Khan enjoyed the show from the non-striker's end.
In Bengaluru, after Delhi chose to bowl first, Ricky Bhui's impressive 122 runs off 105 balls set a challenging target of 299 runs for Delhi, with Andhra Pradesh finishing at 298/8 in their 50 overs. Following an early wicket, Kohli, who hit 14 fours and three sixes, formed crucial partnerships with Priyansh Arya (74 runs off 44 balls) and Nitish Rana (77 runs off 55 balls), leading Delhi to victory with four wickets remaining and nearly 12 overs to spare. Skipper Rishabh Pant had a tough outing, scoring just 5 runs.
With this innings, Kohli became the second Indian, after Sachin Tendulkar, to reach 16,000 List-A runs and recorded his 58th List-A century.
Madan Lal also emphasized the need to enhance India's bowling capabilities, particularly with the focus on red-ball cricket. He stated, “The bowling department must improve, as Test cricket heavily relies on a strong bowling lineup.”