Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has put Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar's record in peril with his scintillating batting performances in England.
Kohli has scored 440 runs till now in just 6 innings. There are still two more Test matches to be played and if Virat gets to bat in all four innings, he may go past Dravid's 602 and Gavaskar's 542 run-mark in England.
The cricketer turned cricket pundit Virender Sehwag is hopeful of Kohli breaking the previous records set by two of India's greatest batsmen.
"It's not a danger to the greats (Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar). Instead, it's a news of immense happiness if someone is about to break their record. It's similar to the joy I felt when Karun Nair became the second triple-centurion for India after me. Gavaskar and Dravid too would feel the same way if and when Kohli breaks their records. I myself want him to do so because it will mean that he scores runs which in turn would culminate in India winning the series," said Sehwag on India TV.
When India will face England in the fourth Test at Southampton, Sehwag believes Virat is good enough to break the record if he gets an easy pitch.
"He made 97 and 103 in the last Test on a bowler-friendly pitch and therefore when he gets favorable batting conditions in the next two Tests, we can expect him to score not just a ton but a double-century. He has already hit 6 double hundreds in a year. So I expect him to score a double hundred and even possibly a triple as that is the only thing missing from his CV".
Is seeing your own record getting broken makes a player sad about it? Sehwag said it's not like that. "When I broke (VVS) Laxman's record of 281 runs, he hugged me and we kept on talking the whole night even celebrating by cutting a cake. When someone breaks your records you should be happy instead of being sad," said the former India opener.
Test cricket needs a collective effort to win a game. An individual may give you lead in one session or two, but to win the game at least five players should contribute, opined Sehwag. "A single player might be able to win you games in the shorter formats but in Tests it is impossible. So to win the series at least 4-5 Indians will have to perform well. That is why whenever we go on tours we emphasize on partnerships. The teams should always focus on building partnerships in both bowling and batting."
Sehwag wants India to go with two spinners that's what requires on a spin-friendly surface. He is also worried about R Ashwin's fitness. The offie was looking uncomfortable in the third Test.
"Ravindra Jadeja could play along with Ashwin. India is lucky to have two spinners in their ranks who can bowl out oppositions. But it will be problematic if Ashwin is unfit as India will be handicapped if they play with only one spinner on a surface where two should play. I wish Ashwin gets fit and India field both of them. Another advantage is that both of them can bat so it will also boost the team batting," concluded Sehwag.
