South Africa National Cricket Team great Brian McMillan has expressed his delight for today’s great batsman Virat Kohli and Indian team respecting Test cricket amid the growing popularity of T20 leagues around the world.
Virat Kohli has openly admitted that he is a ‘traditionalist’ and Test cricket is everything to him. Kohli has often earned praise from absolute legends of the game for prioritizing Test cricket and playing a key role in keeping the purest format of cricket alive.
Kohli is among the few active international cricketers to have played more than 100 Test matches and is also India’s fourth-highest run-getter in the red-ball format, only behind the great Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar.
Virat Kohli has played 113 Test matches for the Indian national cricket team and has scored 8848 runs at an astonishing average of 49.15. He has smashed 29 centuries and 30 half-centuries in the format with the best score of unbeaten 254*.
Meanwhile, players like Kohli are giving their all for Test cricket on one hand, and on the other hand, some players want to focus more on white-ball cricket for their nation and play all over the world in T20 cricket. Recently, the explosive Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who is only 32 years old, shocked the world with his retirement from Test.
Additionally, Cricket South Africa (CSA) recently named a second-string squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand as they want their first-choice players to be available for SA20 2024. This decision made by CSA put them under heavy pressure. Reviews from fans and experts.
Finding Virat Kohli and the kids playing Test cricket is great – Brian McMillan
Brian McMillan recently shared his views on the country’s T20 debate, saying that T20 cricket is important for players to make money, but that’s why Test cricket should not be sacrificed.
“I hope modern players make enough money, otherwise it will be very difficult to do business. It’s very hard for the players. One of our guys (Heinrich Klaasen) has retired now and will obviously play in the T20 league and I have my opinion on how countries should manage their players in essence. People make a name for themselves through essence,” McMillan told PTI.
Brian McMillan added that the Indian team and players like Kohli have shown the utmost respect to Test cricket, which is always good to see.
“I think it is a global feeling that you have to give priority to your own country and I think India has been doing quite well. That you found Kohli and the boys playing Test cricket is fantastic. You won’t find them taking tests to play BBL. Test cricket will be threatened but I suppose it will still be the definitive game,” added McMillan.
Kohli’s most recent appearance in Test cricket came in the two-match series against South Africa away. He once again showed pure class and played brilliant knocks for India in difficult conditions. He finished as India’s highest run-getter and the second highest overall run-getter in the series behind Dean Elgar. In 4 innings, Kohli scored 172 runs at an average of 43.