Ian Chappell has advised Virat Kohli to focus on improving his form and avoid on-field controversies ahead of the upcoming England Test series.
Virat Kohli’s place in the Indian squad for the five-Test series against England later this year remains uncertain. The 36-year-old has struggled with form, scoring just 417 runs in 10 Tests in 2024 at an average of 24. Kohli’s future is in question, especially with Rohit Sharma nearing the end of his Test career. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might give Kohli a longer chance due to his experience.
Meanwhile, the timing of India’s preparation for the tour adds to the complexity. The team has no Test matches scheduled before the series, and it will head straight into the five-match contest after the IPL 2025, with no warm-up match planned. This lack of preparation could hurt India’s chances.
Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has called for Kohli to return to form and avoid unnecessary on-field controversies. Chappell also stressed that Kohli’s experience would be vital for India in England, but consistency is key for his selection.
“Kohli’s experience in the UK would be invaluable, and of the two problematic players he’s the most likely to be resuscitated. However, his consistency needs to improve in addition to dispensing valuable advice to younger players. He also has to stop his senseless antics like shouldering Sam Konstas in the MCG Test. If Kohli does decide to retire from Test cricket, the loss of both him and Rohit would leave a huge gap in the line-up for a tough tour,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
Ian Chappell also raised doubts about Rohit Sharma’s future in Test cricket, citing his struggles and age as concerns. With Rohit nearing 38, his future in the longest format is uncertain, especially with a challenging five-Test series against England ahead. This situation also brings up two crucial questions: who will replace Rohit as India’s opener, and who will take over the captaincy? While vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah could be a potential leader, his fitness and workload management complicate matters.
“For India the two big question marks are leading batters, and the selectors have tough decisions to make regarding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The soon-to-be-38-year-old Rohit, facing a crammed five-Test series against England in a few months, is a doubtful quantity. Although India are extremely reluctant to part with star players, lately Rohit has struggled technically and his absence would provide uncertainty over the opening position and the captaincy,” Chappell added.
“KL Rahul is a decent opening alternative but the captaincy provides a bigger headache whenever Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable. Bumrah showed in Australia he’s an outstanding bowler and a decent skipper, but he needs support in both categories if India are to remain a force,” he concluded.
Dafabet
- Maximum Cricket Cashback 10%
- India Super League Cashback
- Common wallet 100% deposit bonus up to ₹8,000 !
Last Updated on January 13, 2025
Senior Sports Copywriter
