Cricket News

Kapil Dev sheds light on Virat Kohli taking rest for the West Indies tour

Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev had made this remark- “If Ashwin can be dropped from Test matches then so can Virat Kohli from West Indies T20Is”. This remark has sparked a massive furor. Cricket pandits from everywhere had their opinions to say including current skipper Rohit Sharma who has firmly backed Virat Kohli and said that he is still very much a part of Team India’s plans for the upcoming 20-20 World Cup that is slated to be held in Australia later on in the year.

The 18-member squad for the West Indies tour announced on Thursday does not feature Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. The BCCI did not give details for their absence but various media reports suggested that both the senior pros have been rested. However, Kapil Dev looked at the matter in a different light.  “I can’t say a big player like Virat Kohli should be dropped. He is a very big player. If you have said that he has been rested to give him respect then there’s no harm in that,” the 1983 World Cup-winning captain told ABP News.

Kohli, who didn’t feature in India’s first ODI against England due to a groin injury, returned to the XI for the second match at Lord’s,  This clears the air that Virat Kohli has no Injury concerns and that it is a clear case of ‘rest’ being given to the superstar batter so that his workload can be managed and with this being the reason, the former skipper will not be a part of the West Indies tour.

“The most important part is how to bring such a player back in form? He’s not an ordinary cricketer. He should get more practice and play more matches to get his form back. I don’t think there’s any player in this world who is bigger than Kohli in T20s but when you are not doing well, the selectors can take their call. My thinking is that if anybody is not doing well then he can be rested or dropped,” Kapil added.

Kapil Dev also commented on Kohli’s poor run of form of late. The maverick batter has had a lacklustre series against England and has not been able to score the big runs as he used to.

“It’s not like India hasn’t played without Virat in the last five to six years, but I want such a player to be back in form. Yes, he’s been dropped or rested but there’s still a lot of cricket left in him. And he has to create the path for that. Maybe play Ranji Trophy or score runs anywhere. His confidence needs to be back. This is the difference between a great and a good player. A great player like him shouldn’t take so much time to get back in form. He has to fight with himself and get things in order. Yes, it’s a bit of a concern that he is taking so much time to get back in form, a great player doesn’t take this long.

“I don’t have any problems if he is dropped or rested but I want him to get back in form. One innings can change a great player’s fortune but when will that come, we don’t know. We are waiting for two years for that,” he added.