Indian cricket team star batsman Virat Kohli had a disappointing performance in the Test series against Australia. Despite scoring brilliantly in the first Test, he finished the five-match series with just 190 runs and drew much criticism from fans and pundits alike for his weakness against balls outside the off-stump. There has been a lot of talk about his future, but Kohli is said to be reviewing the county schedule ahead of the England tour to prepare for the situation, according to a report in Republic citing RevSportz. However, it will be difficult as the period may conflict with the IPL, the report claimed.
Virat Kohli will be “very motivated” to leave his struggling phase behind and India’s best batsman could return to his scoring ways, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Wednesday.
Kohli has had a tough time for Australia during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring just 190 runs in five Tests at an average of 23.75, despite starting with an unbeaten 100 in the first Test in Perth.
Du Plessis supported Kohli, who was once his team-mate at Royal Challengers Bangalore, to come back stronger from the setbacks and said retirement was a “very personal” choice.
“It’s very, very personal. As a player, no one can tell you when that time is. You will find out,” du Plessis told PTI on the sidelines of SA20 Season 3’s Captain Day.
“People like him are very motivated and know exactly what to do because they’ve been through it all before,” Du Plessis said.
The 40-year-old went back to the day when he felt his time as a Test cricketer was over.
“Each player is different. Every player must answer this question. “I remember that time was for me,” he said.
“I definitely knew that from a Test cricket perspective. I no longer had the same hunger and drive, and that stage definitely felt like a great time for me to bring in new people and step into the T20 world.
He added, “I wanted to do that while I was still at the stage where I felt I was at my best.”
Du Plessis was not pleased that the ICC was reportedly exploring the possibility of a two-tier testing system.
“No, I think it’s necessary for the game to be healthy.” Du Plessis said.
“We have seen over the last few years the value that Australia, England and India have placed on Test cricket to see if there are four or five Test series.
“If you look at other teams, they have a couple of Test matches here and there, six Test matches a season. “I don’t think it’s healthy for the game,” he said.
“As far as Test cricket is concerned, if you look at all the Test matches that have been played over the last few weeks, there have been some incredible performances,” Du Plessis said.
(including PTI input)
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