The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been advised to prepare an exit strategy for Virat Kohli, who scored 5, 100*, 7, 11, 3, 36, and 5 in his last seven innings.
The debate over the futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Test cricket has escalated following their performances in Australia. While Sharma’s retirement after the post-Australia tour appears inevitable, Kohli’s situation is less certain.
Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan expressed concerns over Kohli’s form, urging the BCCI to develop a succession plan and prepare for Kohli’s potential exit.
At 36, Kohli has faced challenges in regaining his peak form. He has stepped down from T20 internationals, and his career in Test cricket seems precarious. Although Wassan believes Kohli’s peak performances may still be achievable, he insists the BCCI should prepare for his succession.
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Wassan highlighted the mental strain on players like Kohli, noting, “Players often believe their best performances are just around the corner, but such a prolonged slump is detrimental to the team.” He emphasized a clear exit and succession strategy to support the player and the team’s management structure.
This day back in 2014, MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket, immediately following the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, passing the baton to Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/TgylUjxM9y
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) December 30, 2024Read: Australian Media Labels Virat Kohli a “Clown” After Sam Konstas Clash
In Australia, Kohli struggled particularly with deliveries outside off-stump. Despite showing some discipline and scoring 36 in the first innings of the MCG Test, he fell to wide deliveries in both innings. With the Sydney Test looming, another underperformance could prompt Kohli to reconsider his future in red-ball cricket, especially given the impressive performances of some younger players on the tour.
