Indian Cricket Board Set The Penultimate Test For Virat Kohli Ahead Of England T20Is
Virat Kohli (Image Source: Twitter)
After losing the one-off Test match against England, India is scheduled to play a three-match T20I and a three-match ODI series respectively. Rohit Sharma will be back in action as the leader of the group as he missed the Test by getting tested Covid-19 positive. However, the players, who played in Ireland last month, will be available for selection for the first T20I.
But for the next two T20Is, all big names like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah have been added. It will be another test for Virat Kohli as he failed to show his class once again in the recently concluded Test match. Even, an Indian Cricket Board official came up with a statement that this series could be his penultimate one ahead of the T20 World cup in Australia, later this year.
“Perform or Perish has to be a way forward on him” – Board’s official
Speaking about the importance of this series for Kohli to InsideSport, one of the Indian Cricket Board’s officials said that Kohli needs to perform in this series. Otherwise, other options will be considered by the selectors ahead of the World cup. He said: “He has been a great servant of the Indian cricket. Without a doubt one of the best. But his struggle for form and runs is now alarming. Selectors need to select people on form not on reputation. I am no authority but he needs to get his groove back soon. Perform or Perish has to be a way forward on him. I guess selectors will look for options before the T20 World Cup if he doesn’t get runs in England”
Another source claimed that the Indian team management and selectors are having some doubts about fitting Kohli in the T20I middle-order. Speaking to TOI, he added: “The T20I team has been withheld to evaluate the rest needed to be given to the top players. Rohit, Pant, and Pandya are likely to play the T20Is in West Indies. Bumrah most likely will not be traveling to the Caribbean. As for Kohli, one needs to see what the team management decides on what it needs for the T20 World Cup. This limited-overs series in England is very crucial for Kohli,”
Virat Kohli will be in action from the second T20I match of the series followed by the scheduled three-match ODI series against England.
