Virender Sehwag, a former Indian opener, believes it is unfair to challenge Virat Kohli’s role as a batter in the T20I format. Virat Kohli captained Team India for the final time in a T20I on Monday, prompting Sehwag’s remarks (November 8).
Kohli’s incredible consistency in the shortest version of the game has been acknowledged by Sehwag throughout the years. While Indian cricket boasts a variety of talented young batters, none of them can replace a player of Kohli’s caliber, according to the 43-year-old.
“No matter how many youngsters come, there won’t be another Virat Kohli. With the kind of consistency he displays with the bat, even in this current side, it won’t be right to question his place in the T20 set-up. He will continue to play T20I for as long as he wants.” Sehwag said
Former seamer Ashish Nehra mirrored Sehwag’s sentiments, claiming that no hitter can match Virat Kohli’s solidity when batting at No. 3.
“No one will give you stability in the batting unit better than Virat Kohli. You can’t just load your batting unit with power-hitters, you need a combination of experience and youth.” Nehra said
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, the world’s best run-scorer in T20I cricket. It was named Player of the Tournament in both the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups. In just 87 innings, the run-machine has racked up 3227 runs. Then averaging 52.05 runs per inning and a strike rate of 137.91. Virender Sehwag
Kohli’s time as T20I captain came to an end with Team India failing to go through the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup 2021. The champion cricketer, on the other hand, has a record that any captain would be proud of.
Kohli guided India to 32 wins and 16 losses in 50 T20Is. In Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, and Sri Lanka, he won bilateral T20I rubbers.
“Thank You, Virat Kohli! You captained India brilliantly and gave us a lot of memorable moments in T20Is. I wish you continue scoring runs and winning games for the country.” Sehwag said
For the first time since 2012, India won their final league stage match against Namibia, but failed to advance to the semi-finals of an ICC event. Virat Kohli’s time as captain ended on a sour note.
Read more: Azeem Rafiq says I will continue to campaign against institutional racism
Visit also: Simon Doull- “There was a real air of arrogance around the scheduling” in T20 World Cup 2021