Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth said talismanic batter Virat Kohli deserved a royal send-off from Test cricket. Srikkanth said Kohli should have been part of the England tour in 2025, where India were able to get a 2-2 series result under Shubman Gill’s captaincy.
Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. In the last 69 Test innings since 2020, Kohli managed only 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, including just three centuries.
Before 2020, Kohli accumulated 7202 runs in 141 Test innings at an average of 54.97, including 27 centuries.
The right-hander scored 190 runs in five Test matches on the Australian tour and was continuously troubled by the outside off-stump line, getting dismissed while trying to play through the covers.
“I think Virat Kohli should have played the Test series in England, in my opinion. He is a different level. It is not about age. He’s got the passion, aggression, he’s simply amazing. In 20-20 cricket, he is amazing, in IPL as well. Against England, that series, Virat should have gone, frankly speaking. I think they should have given him a royal send-off. For someone who has done so much for Indian cricket, they should have given him a royal send-off in Test cricket. Unfortunately, it did not happen,” Srikkanth said in an interview with PTI.
Srikkanth, the 1983 World Cup winning player, said Kohli is one of the best captains India has ever produced irrespective of no ICC title under his leadership.
“You should let him alone. Let Virat decide what to do. Like what Sachin did. He is King of Kings. He himself would know what to do, what not to do. He is a very balanced guy. I like his commitment to the game and he is a big team man. He’s been one of the best captains India has produced, especially in Test cricket. But it’s just that he’s not been lucky that he could not win an ICC trophy. But otherwise, in my opinion, he has been one of the best captains India has produced,” he expressed.
Kohli is currently out of action due to a hamstring injury.
