I only commentate on cricket, T20 is not even cricket- Michael Holding on commentating in IPL

Michael Holding also compared Virat Kohli to legendary Viv Richards.

MI skipper Rohit Sharma and RCB skipper Virat Kohli | BCCI/IPLLegendary pacer Michael Holding who was a part of the West Indies' amazing fast bowling unit in the 70s-80s, recently reconfirmed his disdain for T20 cricket.

The right-arm quick who is a purist and loves Test cricket went on to say that he doesn’t even consider the T20 format as cricket and it is also the reason why he doesn’t do commentary in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Holding then went on to blame the T20s for West Indies’ current situation in the longest format of the game. The 67-year-old did not blame the cricketers for choosing franchise-based tournaments over Test cricket but the administrators.

Many West Indies players are not interested in playing for West Indies. When you are earning 600,000 or 800,000 dollars for six weeks, what are you going to do? I don't blame the cricketers. I blame the administrators. West Indies will win T20 tournaments which aren't cricket,Holding told The Indian Express.

"I think he gets a bit carried away at times," says Michael Holding on Virat Kohli's aggression

When asked about the reason behind the former West Indies cricketer not commentating in the IPL, the fast bowler quickly replied by saying, “I only commentate on cricket.

The pacer then went on to compare the Indian skipper Virat Kohli with legendary batsman Sir Viv Richards and also pointed out some similarities.

Virat Kohli is someone who wears his heart on his sleeve. He's someone who will let you know exactly how he feels. He's similar to Viv (Richards) in that regard. Viv, sometimes on the field, was over-expressive. But those are the personalities of those two gentlemen. They can tone down a little bit as well, but then, if you are a Mustang, it's hard to tell a Mustang to trot. He's going to gallop,” Holding signed off.

(With The Indian Express Inputs)

 
 

By Swapnil Shireesh Javkhedkar - 28 Jun, 2021

    Share Via