India head coach Rahul Dravid asked the detractors to show patience and to keep faith in India Test captain Virat Kohli, as he felt that big runs are just around the corner and it is just a matter of one innings clicking for the Delhi batter.
Kohli has not made an international century since November 2019 and though he is not out of form, the number of runs that are expected from the bat of Kohli is not just flowing and after his recent failures in the Centurion Test match, questions were raised about his place in the India XI.
"In keeping the morale high (in South Africa) it has not been difficult as it has been led the skipper himself. Virat Kohli has been phenomenal over the last 20 days, the way he has trained he has practiced," said Dravid on the eve of the second Test against South Africa.
"I couldn't speak highly of him the way he is committed to his own preparation. And also with the way he has connected himself with the group on and off the field. Even though he batted and couldn't convert those starts I really feel there will be a big run of scores once he clicks in," he added.
Asked why Kohli has not addressed the media so far in the tour, Dravid said, "There is no specific reason for that. I don't decide this but I am told he will be speaking on the eve of his 100th Test. Then you can ask all the questions on his 100th Test."
Rahul Dravid also backed the struggling Indian middle order of Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara to come good as he felt that there are phases in cricketers' careers when they are not able to replicate their past performance but added that it is just a matter of time they will score big runs.
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"There are a variety of factors that happens. There are phases in your career where you probably are batting well but big scores are not coming. And it happens with everyone, but the good point is that they seem to be batting really well so they are getting the starts," said Dravid.
"They know how to convert it's not that these guys don't know how to score big runs. So it's just a matter of time, I am really hoping we will see some really good performance in coming days," he added.
The second Test between India and South Africa begins on January 3, 2021.
(ANI/PTI inputs)
