19 August 2023, Mumbai: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s suggestion that Virat Kohli should focus on Test cricket after the upcoming ODI World Cup drew ire on social media with former India skipper Sourav Ganguly also doesn’t seem to be pleased with the idea.
“Why? Virat Kohli should play whatever cricket he wants to play. Because he performs,” Ganguly said on the sidelines of an event.
Akhtar Statement
Akhtar suggested that Kohli must consider ‘extending his Test career,’ expressing his belief that participating in white-ball cricket consumes a significant portion of his energy, potentially impeding his prospects of sustaining a prolonged tenure in Test cricket.
“I don’t think he should play more 50-overs matches after this World Cup. Also, if you see him in T20s, it takes a lot out of him. Kohli should focus on Test cricket and aim to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international 100s. I think he should play for at least 6 more years. Kohli has it in him to break the record. He should focus on Test cricket after this World Cup,” Akhtar said on Backstage With Boria World Cup Special on Revsportz.
Ganguly termed India as the “favourites” for the World Cup, saying that what matters is how the team plays during the tournament.
“It is about how you play during the tournament. I have always said that and it doesn’t change and India will always be my favourite. As I said, how Rohit Sharma, Pandya and Dravid take the game on the ground is very important. I want to see the young left-hander in the side at the top of the order Yashasvi because he has enormous ability and he is fearless. So, this is a great side,” he said.
Team India Capability
The Indian team has copped plenty of flak for their recent T20I series loss against West Indies – their first bilateral series defeat against the team from the Caribbean in 17 years. Hardik Pandya, who leads the T20I side faced the most brunt for some questionable decisions he made throughout the five-match series. Youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma emerged as huge positives but got buried under the unexpected series defeat. Coming to Team India’s defence, Ganguly urged the team management to give more chances to such youngsters and requested the fans to get behind their players ahead of the World Cup 2023.
Ganguly reply
“Pick your best players. He may be a left-hander or a right hander. India have outstanding left-handers… they will find a place in the side. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan. Then there is Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya… it’s a terrific side. India is a country where there is evaluation after every game. They are a good team if they win and become bad after a loss. You have to live with that. It’s part and parcel of the sport,” added the former India captain.
By ASC Priya