Indian captain Virat Kohli knows the importance of the upcoming tour to England, where India plays five Tests, along with three ODIs and three T20Is.
Virat Kohli has scored runs all over the world, except England, something his critics always points out. He has played 10 Tests and scored 134 runs with an average of 13.4 and a highest score of 39 runs. He has signed up with English county Surrey and has made himself available for three four day matches scheduled between 9-28 June — against Hampshire, Somerset and Yorkshire.
He will go to England right after the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) ends on 27 May.
His decision to play English county cricket has impressed former India batsman VVS Laxman who tweeted, “Virat Kohli 's decision to play county cricket before the England series shows his drive and commitment to achieve excellence. I am sure not only him,but Team India will do exceedingly well in the England series. Best wishes!”
Virat Kohli 's decision to play county cricket before the England series shows his drive and commitment to achieve excellence. I am sure not only him,but Team India will do exceedingly well in the England series. Best wishes!
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 24, 2018
During the 2014 England series, Kohli’s scores in five Tests read 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0, 7, 6 and 20.
"I had put too much pressure on myself before going to England that I needed to score here. I don't know why sub-continent players are given different benchmarks that we have to perform in certain countries and if you don't do that, you are not considered a good player. I think it was more about me being desperate to do well in England and then when you don't do well at start, you start going down mentally," Kohli had told former England captain Nasser Hussain on bcci.tv interview.
Even cricket journalist and commentator Harsha Bhogle said that Kohli’s decision to play county cricket was right. He tweeted,” Virat Kohli has made a strong statement of intent about the England tour where he has unfinished business by opting to play county cricket. In doing so, has also prioritised opposition by missing the test against Afghanistan”
Virat Kohli has made a strong statement of intent about the England tour where he has unfinished business by opting to play county cricket. In doing so, has also prioritised opposition by missing the test against Afghanistan
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2018
Even former India captain Kapil Dev had said that Kohli should play county cricket to get rid of his shortcomings in England. He said, "If he can play a season or two in English county cricket there would be nothing wrong, because if you want to be the best player in the world you have to get runs everywhere."
(With inputs from firstpost.com)
