Retiring from Test cricket may be a good thing for Virat Kohli, even if that means a vastly reduced time that he can spend on the field as it gives him something focus on, says former Australia fast bowler Andy Bichel. The 55-year-old, who was among the chief architects of Australia’s 2003 World Cup victory, said that stepping away from the longest format has now allowed the 36-year-old Kohli to focus solely in ODI cricket.
“I think for someone like Virat he is very fit. He’s going along really well. Obviously, he still wants to play the IPL. RCB won it last year so he’s keen to go back-to-back there and do that,” Bichel told Times of India.
“I guess dropping out of Test cricket gives him a focus point, to focus on his 50-over cricket. If he’s scoring well and giving it to the team, like he has been, then you can’t fault him for that,” he continued. “His currency is runs. He just needs to go out there and keep scoring and if he is, he can make the 2027 World Cup.”
Considered one of the greatest batters of all time, Kohli retired from T20Is last year after powering India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title with a player-of-the-match performance in the final. He remains one of just two Indians to have scored more than 4000 career runs in the format. He retired from Tests in May this year with 9230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85 with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
It is in ODIs that he is the most prolific though, with 14,255 runs in 305 matches with a record 51 ceturies and 75 half-centuries. While he was dismissed for back-t0-back ducks in the recent series in Australia, Kohli ended it with an unbeaten 74 off 81 balls, which itself was part of an unbeaten 168-run stand for the second wicket with longtime teammate Rohit, who finished not out on 121 off 125 balls.
Bichel noted the similarities between Kohli and his own former captain Ricky Ponting, a comparison that has been made multiple times across the former India skipper’s career. “Virat Kohli is an absolute legend of the game. He always reminds of Ricky Ponting. Ricky played the same game, a very good batter. Virat is one of those players who really took the game on, really energetic and great to watch. Same as Ricky,” he said.
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