India Squad T20 WC – BCCI Selectors on Virat Kohli: The clock is ticking on Virat Kohli’s place in Indian squad, especially in T20s. The selectors and the BCCI have set T20 World Cup 2022 as the deadline for Kohli to get his form back or he will be dropped from the squad for Australia series in November. The former Indian captain will take a month-long break from cricket and skip the West Indies tour completely. Follow India Tour of West Indies Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“There will always be a low after high and that is exactly what Virat is going through. But considering the team, nobody is immune. Ajinkya and Pujara too have been dropped and so did so many other cricketers. He will certainly feature in the T20 World Cup if he is fit. But that will be his last chance as we have to look at the team as well. If he doesn’t get his form back, he will be asked to go back to domestic and get his form back,” a selection committee member told InsideSport.
India Squad T20 WC: Unhappy with Virat Kohli’s FORM & decision to REST, selectors send STERN warning, ‘Perform or perish after T20 World Cup’
However, it is not the first time that Virat Kohli has been rested. In fact, in the last 12 months, Kohli is the most rested player after New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and KL Rahul. Kohli has missed a total of 23 matches since the T20 World Cup 2021.
Virat Kohli Rest: How many matches/series have Kohli missed since T20 World Cup 2021?
- 3: T20I series against New Zealand (Rested)
- 1: 1st Test against NZ (Rested)
- 1: 2nd Test against South Africa (Injury)
- 1: 3rd T20 against West Indies (Rested)
- 3: T20 series against Sri Lanka (Rested)
- 5: T20 series against South Africa (Rested)
- 1: 1st ODI against England (Injury)
- 3: ODI series against West Indies (Rested)
- 5: T20 series against West Indies (Rested)
- Kohli has missed a total of 23 matches since the T20 World Cup in UAE. This is barring the short tours of Ireland.
India Squad T20 WC: Unhappy with Virat Kohli’s FORM & decision to REST, selectors send STERN warning, ‘Perform or perish after T20 World Cup’
This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ozr7BFFgXt
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) July 14, 2022
In yesteryears, the idea was simple. If a cricketer loses his form, he would have to perform in domestic cricket to get back to the Indian team again. Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and even Rahul Dravid had to go through this. But with the workload, it has changed. Players who play all three formats have been exempted from domestic cricket.
But after losing form for more than a year, the selectors are ready to take a stance. Although the decision to keep Kohli in plans for T20 World Cup is debatable, they want to make him feel secure and concentrate on his batting instead.
“Every player needs assurance and if one doesn’t get that and gets dropped, they will be in constant fear. After scoring over 30,000 runs in international cricket, one doesn’t need that. Virat is precious to Indian and world cricket and we have to make him feel secure. In saying that, I want to emphasize, in no way, he was dropped from West Indies tour. It was his request that we along with BCCI accepted,” the selection committee member told InsideSport.
India Squad T20 WC: Unhappy with Virat Kohli’s FORM & decision to REST, selectors send STERN warning, ‘Perform or perish after T20 World Cup’
While Virat Kohli has received the message from the selectors loud and clear, in fact from Chetan Sharma, who is in England, the month-long break is what can rekindle his form. After the Manchester ODI, Kohli will move to an undisclosed location and spend a month with his family in London. He will only resume practice on August 1 to prepare for Asia Cup, India’s penultimate assignment before the T20 World Cup.
During the Asia Cup, BCCI will have to submit the T20 World Cup squad (September 15 deadline). Kohli will be in the squad barring any late injury. Meanwhile, Kohli is approaching an unwanted milestone. If he doesn’t get his maiden T20I century in Asia Cup, Kohli would have spent 1000 days without a century. His 70th century came back in 2019 against Bangladesh.
Kohli 1000 Days without a 100?
- For Virat Kohli his 70 international hundreds came in 4114 Days.
- But his wait for 71st is now almost reaching 1000 days.
- It’s been 966 days since he hit his LAST 100
- Old Trafford will be his LAST CHANCE before he goes on a break from cricket
- In case he can’t Kohli will be 1000 days without the 100 in any form of cricket.
- Kohli is already rested for the West Indies and will be next available for the Asia Cup in final week of August
- His last hundred came on 23rd November 2019 against Bangladesh on Day 2 of Kolkata Test
India Squad T20 WC: Unhappy with Virat Kohli’s FORM & decision to REST, selectors send STERN warning, ‘Perform or perish after T20 World Cup’
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