"If Kohli and Dhoni don’t do well, TV ratings go down": Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann also lauded Virat Kohli for his stylish batting.

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli | Getty Images

Former England spinner and cricket commentator Graeme Swann believes MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli's form has a significant impact on television ratings. He further said that India would always want to see Kohli on fire whenever he turns up on the field, just like people wanted Dhoni to do the same.

However, Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2019, but the craze for the legendary cricketer remains the same and when he turns up for the CSK in the IPL, fans get mad for 'MSD'. On the other hand, Kohli is still an integral part of Team India despite leaving the captaincy.

Read Also: “He is peaking at the right time ahead of World Cup,” Ross Taylor on Virat Kohli

Graeme Swann was quoted as saying to News18: “India needs Virat Kohli to fire. I’ve worked for the TV side and I know there is a desperate need for Virat Kohli to do well, as it was with MS Dhoni. If those guys don’t do well, TV ratings go down and people get disillusioned. I want Virat Kohli to do well, when I used to play against India, I never minded Virat Kohli’s batting.”

The former cricketer also said that he really enjoys watching Kohli’s batting while hailing his class with the bat. He is currently playing in the T20I series against South Africa at home.

Swann signed off by saying, “I liked watching him bat up close, trust me if you think you think he looks good while batting from the stands and on TV, you should stand at a backward point or cover, it’s gorgeous to watch him bat.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 01 Oct, 2022

    Share Via