Kapil asked if Ashwin can be dropped from Test XI then why not Kohli from T20Is.
Former captain Kapil Dev feels if India’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin can be dropped from the Test XI, having taken close to 450 wickets then why is Virat Kohli not axed from T20Is after his sustained bad patch.
The legendary all-rounder believes that the Indian team management will be doing a disservice to in-form players who have proven their mettle at the highest level if they don't get enough opportunities to showcase their skills. Kohli hasn't scored a century in international cricket since 2019.
“Yes, now the situation is such that you might be forced to bench Kohli from T20 playing eleven. If world No. 2 bowler Ashwin can be dropped from Test side then (once upon a time) world No. 1 batter can also be dropped,” Kapil told ABP News.
The World Cup-winning captain believes that the younger players who have just made their mark on the international stage can't be kept out of the team if Virat Kohli isn't performing.
“Virat is not batting at a level which we have seen him do over the years. He has made a name because of his performances but if he isn’t performing, then you can’t keep the performing youngsters out of the team,” he stated.
The 63-year-old further said that he wants to see young players challenge established players for positions in the team in a healthy battle for starting spots.
“I want competition for places in team in a positive sense that these youngsters should try and outperform Virat,” he said.
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If the star batter is rested for the T20I series in West Indies, he should be considered as dropped, according to Kapil.
“You can call it rest and someone else will call it dropped. Every person will have his own view. Obviously, if selectors don’t pick him (Kohli), then it could be because a big player isn’t performing,” he remarked.
He continued by saying that players who are currently in form should be given priority for slots in the starting XI.
“Play in-form players when you have loads of options,” said Kapil. “You can’t just go by reputation but you have to look for current form. You can be an established player but that doesn’t mean that you will be given chances even if you fail five games in a row,” he concluded.
Virat Kohli will next feature in India’s second T20I against England on Saturday (July 9) at Edgbaston.
(PTI INPUTS)