David Lloyd feels Virat Kohli is past his best, says his time is gone

Former England cricketer David Lloyd believes Virat Kohli is past his best and feels the veteran’s time is gone. Kohli recently struggled to get going on the Australian tour, amassing 190 runs in five Test matches at an average of 23.75. In nine nine innings, Kohli was dismissed caught behind on eight occasions as his perennial issue of meddling with outside off-stump deliveries once again haunted him.

The veteran batter scored a fine hundred at Perth but barring that knock, he could not deliver consistently. Kohli could only manage 93 runs in three Test matches against New Zealand at an average of 15.50 despite playing at home. The talisman scored 99 runs in two Test matches against Bangladesh at an average of 33.

The former Indian captain has been averaging around 30 in the last five years and has managed only four Test centuries.

David Lloyd said on talkSport Cricket, “Virat Kohli knows he is past his best and that will hurt. When India come to England, you know where he’s going to be. Just outside off stump, and the business area will be the slips. At 36 years of age, up in the mind, he knows what he should be doing. Your reflexes gently go. Ponting said he carried on a bit longer than he usually would have.”

“The selectors should know. He is one of the greatest players we have seen but is past his best. The coach Gautam Gambhir will have an enormous say, a big say, because he has been in that dressing room. He has lost time. His time is over. The one thing when you talk about great cricketers, that the rest haven’t, is time. He has lost time. It’s gone. His time’s gone. It comes with age.”

Lloyd said it is crucial for India to find new players and back them by giving them opportunities as the team is in transition.

“When a team is in transition, they’ve got to find new players. That’s what the selectors, the coaches, the captain – that’s what you’ve got to do. They’ve got plenty of cricketers to choose from India and it’s a great opportunity for the younger cricketers to make a mark. If I was involved, I would be stimulated by it. I might just find a new Dravid, a new Tendulkar or a new Ganguly because that’s how they also came into the team,” said Lloyd.

India will tour England for five Test matches, with the opening Test set to be played at Leeds, Headingley from June 20 onwards.