“India’s performances have dipped when the senior players aren’t there” : Former Pakistan Captain Salman Butt. 

Former Pakistan cricket captain Salman Butt has shared his perspective on the performance of Team India in the absence of senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah. According to Butt, the Indian team seems to struggle when these experienced players are not in the lineup.

Butt highlighted that while India possesses a considerable depth of talent, the presence of seasoned campaigners like Kohli, Sharma, and Bumrah is crucial for achieving consistent success. He stressed that although India can field multiple teams due to their vast talent pool, the quality of their performance tends to suffer when the senior players are unavailable.

Butt said “They struggle to get their combination right when the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are absent. It’s not the same team without them. Saying we can make three or four teams is fine, as the talent pool is there. However, regarding quality, India’s performances have dipped when the senior players aren’t there. It doesn’t matter what people say, but the experience of those senior players makes a big difference.”

This observation comes in contrast to a statement made by Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya after India’s 2-1 ODI series win against Sri Lanka in July 2021. Pandya had expressed confidence in India’s bench strength, suggesting that they could field two additional teams capable of winning any competition in the world.

However, the reality played out differently during India’s recent series against the West Indies. In the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the Indian team faced a setback, losing the second ODI by six wickets. The defeat emphasized the importance of experienced players in the lineup.