VIrat Kohli need not be forced to play Vijay Hazare Trophy, feels Mohammed Kaif. (AP)Only days after seemingly downplaying the need for game time through domestic cricket or other forms of the game, Virat Kohli was on Tuesday confirmed to have expressed his availability for the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi later this month. However, former India batter Mohammed Kaif said a player of Kohli’s stature should not be forced to return to the domestic rigours, given the standard of the circuit isn’t necessarily high.
The Indian Express had learnt on Tuesday that Kohli informed the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) that he will be available for selection for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s domestic one-day tournament. This comes after Kohli seemed ready to defy the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which had asked both him and Rohit Sharma in November to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to remain in contention to play for India.
Kaif said that a lack of game time between the Australia series in October and the ongoing South Africa one-dayers did not affect Kohli’s intensity. In the opening match in Ranchi last Sunday, Kohli cracked a record-extending 52nd ODI century and a sixth against the Saffers in the format, powering the Men in Blue’s 17-run win.
“In white-ball cricket, players do not have to make many changes. Kohli came after 35 days, and see how he played. He hit so many sixes as well. He showed he is the boss in this format. If he can bat like this and not look rusty and dominate bowlers after a gap, then I don’t think you can force him to go play the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The quality is also not high there,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“He can play if he wishes to; you have to leave it to him. You cannot tell him to do something; you can ask him. You should keep the door open for such special players, given the level he is at. He gave that example in Ranchi. Do not treat every player the same way,” Kaif added.
Kaif also stressed that the Indian team management and head coach Gautam Gambhir must handle elite players like Kohli while taking their interests into consideration.
“Big coaches always ask players what they want. Especially with such players, they ask them if they want to come for extra practice and then make arrangements if needed. And all this does not happen in public, these talks about behind the scenes. Big coaches prepare players like this to get the best out of them rather than force things upon them. This does not apply to Virat, and you have to understand that,” Kaif said.
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