Former Indian National Cricket Team and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman S Badrinath has issued a major warning to batting maestro Virat Kohli ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh National Cricket Team.
Kohli is set to return to Test cricket after missing a big home series against the England National Cricket Team earlier in the year due to the birth of his son.
Virat Kohli had pulled out of the five-match Test series against the Three Lions, with his last appearance in the purest format of the game coming on January 3-4 in the Cape Town Test against the South Africa National Cricket Team.
Kohli has played 6 Test matches against Bangladesh and has scored 437 runs at an astonishing average of 54.62, with two centuries and a highest score of 204.
Ahead of the series, S Badrinath spoke about how Virat Kohli not taking part in the Duleep Trophy could have a negative impact on his game against the Bangladesh bowlers. In an interaction with InsideSport, he said:
“It would have been nice for Virat to play one of the Duleep Trophy matches that are going on. So I think yes, Bangladesh, we all know he is one of the best tank bowlers. Every third person on every street has a left-arm spinner in Bangladesh.
“So, they will definitely be coming with left-handed bowlers for this India series. So, I thought it would probably have been good for Virat to play one of the Duleep Trophy matches that are going on. So, I think that no matter how much you practice at the net, it could be one match or two matches equivalent to 100 sessions at the net, that’s what I feel.”
Virat Kohli is the number one Test batsman – S Badrinath
S Badrinath added that taking part in one of the Duleep Trophy matches would have helped Virat Kohli get into the rhythm before facing the Bangladesh bowlers on the Indian tracks. He explained:
“I think what can be learned from these… So, I would probably have loved to see him because as a cricket expert I am not advising him or asking him to do anything. But as a cricket expert, I thought probably in a match, if he was playing the Duleep Trophy, I would have helped him to play against the bowlers. Just to get into rhythm.
“Just to refresh your memory on what it’s like to play in India against the bowlers. But he’s a great player. I think he’ll score the goals.”
S Badrinath further said that a big Test season is coming up for India and Virat Kohli, who he considers as the number one batsman, will have to make significant contributions to help his team play well and book a place in the ICC World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time. He explained:
“There’s a big Test season coming up for India and I still believe that Virat is the number one batsman in Tests. For India to do well in Test cricket, in the WTC and all that, I think Virat will be the key.”
On Friday, September 13, the stars of the Indian National Cricket Team took part in a very intense practice session and Kohli reportedly batted for 45 minutes in the nets.
