The Test career of Virat Kohli, who has retired from T20 International cricket, is currently under question. In the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he did score a century in the first match, but his average in the entire series was less than 24. Also, Kohli’s performance in the ODI series against Sri Lanka in August 2024 was also not as expected.
Criticism intensified on Kohli’s form
Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, criticism continues regarding Kohli’s declining form. Former Australia captain Ian Chappell, reacting to this, said that Kohli should avoid absurd actions and focus on scoring runs continuously.
“Shoulder issue” and decline in form
The controversy during the Melbourne Test, which is being called the “shoulder scandal”, also kept Kohli in the headlines. In this incident with Sam Constas, Kohli hit Constas on the shoulder, due to which the ICC fined him 20 percent of his match fee.
On this Ian Chappell said, “Virat Kohli will have to avoid such actions. He needs to score consistent runs and inspire the young players. His experience will be of great importance on the England tour.”
Emphasis on Kohli’s consistency
Chappell said in a column written for ESPNcricinfo, “The experience of players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is invaluable for the team. However, Kohli needs to improve his consistency. It is his responsibility to motivate the young players and keep themselves useful to the team.”
Important players for England tour
Ian Chappell also said that if Kohli retires from Test cricket, the Indian team will face a big blow. He wrote, “If both Kohli and Rohit Sharma leave Test cricket, there will be a big difference in the team’s line-up. It will be challenging especially for difficult foreign tours.”
Kohli’s experience needed
According to Chappell, Virat Kohli’s experience on the England tour is very important for India. According to him, Kohli will have to work hard on his form and focus on scoring consistent runs to maintain his usefulness in Test cricket.
