Former Indian Test opener Navjot Singh Sidhu reckons it would be a huge blow for Team India if Virat Kohli decides to call time on Test career. In the last 69 Test innings since 2020, Kohli has managed only 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, including just three centuries.
There have been reports that Kohli has shown his desire to retire from the Test format and has told BCCI about his intentions. However, the Indian board has requested Kohli to reconsider his decision.
Sidhu reckons India won’t be the same side without the services of Virat Kohli and the veteran batter must continue playing at the top level for the goodwill of Indian cricket.
Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Star Sports as quoted by India Today, “Once it’s said that the country needs you, just forget everything else. Virat Kohli will say, I am available. Virat Kohli is needed in these conditions in England. In England, if you play Virat Kohli, I’ll make an eleven for you. I’ll make an eleven, and you see the strength of that eleven. If you try to form a team without Virat, everything will start to fall apart. You’ll be compromising in every area, and you won’t even realize where and how to establish stability. You just won’t understand. That’s how important he is—he’s like the bridge standing firm at number four.”
The former Indian batter named the team’s batting order for England Tests, picking Sai Sudharsan as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s opening partner after Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Sidhu said the selectors and the team’s think tank must back specialists in place of bits and pieces players.
Sidhu concluded, “Sai Sudharsan and Jaiswal as openers. Number three, Gill. Number four, Kohli. Number five, KL Rahul. Number six, Rishabh Pant. Then at number seven, Jadeja. And four fast bowlers—if you don’t want to play outright fast bowlers and want batting till number eight, then bring in Nitish Reddy and play three fast bowlers. What I’m saying is, you need specialists, not bits-and-pieces players. When you go for bits and pieces, you end up compromising in Test matches.”
The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.
