New Delhi: Notwithstanding his struggles with the moving delivery outside off stump, Virat Kohli remains a top batter, who should take it upon himself to spearhead the Indian batting line-up in the Border-Gavaskar series, said Kapil Dev.
Kohli has been dismissed cheaply in three of the four innings of the first two Tests against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series. He struck his 30th Test ton and 81st international century (100 not out) in the second innings of the first match at Perth.
But at Adelaide he could only manage seven and 11 in the two innings, as India slumped to a 10-wicket loss after winning by 295 runs at Perth.
With the series level at 1-1 and three more matches to go, India would need Kohli to be at his best if they are to win the BGT series and qualify for the World Test Championship final.
But the manner in which he has been dismissed in the three innings across two matches have highlighted his familiar weakness with the moving ball. Twice Kohli was indecisive, leading to edges flying to slips while attempting to leave the ball.
While in the second innings at Perth, he edged Pat Cumins to the wicketkeeper Alex Carey in a fashion similar to his previous dismissals while trying to play the cover drive.
Like Virat Kohli, he is one of the best cricketers in our country. If you put the four top batsmen, he will be there. If he is going through a rough time, it is only up to him how fast he can bounce back,” Kapil said at a golf event in Delhi on Monday, as quoted by PTI.
‘Rohit doesn’t need to prove himself’
Kapil also backed skipper Rohit Sharma to pull his weight after scores of three and six in the pink-ball Test after batting in the middle order, only for getting criticised for being ‘subdued’.
“He doesn’t have to prove himself. He has done this for many, many years, so let’s not doubt somebody. I won’t doubt him. I hope his form comes back, that’s important,” Kapil said.
Rohit missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child and joined the squad before the second game. In his absence, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah led the team to a 295-run in Perth, leading to voices pitching for him to be named the full-time skipper after Rohit.
“Let a player play a lot of cricket, take on a lot of captaincy. Ups and downs will come, and then you judge a person by how he reacts in difficult times, not in good times. In good times, we don’t have to judge. When he is down and out…,” the 1983 ODI World Cup winning captain said.
Kapil Dev also backed skipper Rohit Sharma to pull his weight after scores of three and six in the pink-ball Test after batting in the middle order Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
