Former legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne believes that Virat Kohli will reinvent himself as a batsman after resigning from the captaincy duties. Warne feels that Virat will start scoring hundreds like before. Notable that he hasn’t scored a hundred since November 2019.
After the series loss against South Africa, Virat Kohli decided to step down from Test captaincy. Last year he resigned from T20I captaincy after the T20 World Cup and later in December, the selectors sacked him from ODI captaincy as well.
Virat Kohli hasn’t scored a hundred since November 2019
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Shane Warne stated that leading India for such a long time is an uphill task when there is so much media attention to the captain so it’s the right time for Kohli to focus on his batting and someone else to do the captaincy job.
“There is just so much expectation. It’s so difficult to be captain of India in all forms of the game and then play the IPL as well. Everyone looks for him to comment, to be the leader so I’m looking forward to watching Virat bat now. Get someone else to take the captaincy, let someone else do all that and allow Virat getting back to being the best in the world. I’m really looking forward to that,” Warne said.
However, Warne said that he was surprised like anybody. And he lauded his captaincy which took India to great heights in the longest format.
“I was a little surprised like everyone. Virat has been a wonderful captain for India but it’s also very tough with the expectations of over a billion people. It’s going to be really tough for him. I don’t think anyone could captain India for a long period of time in all forms of the game and continue to bat at a higher level. So I think it’s a great opportunity now for Virat to go back and prove to himself and everyone why he is the best batter in the world. And hope he can concentrate on his batting and start making hundreds in all forms of the game again. I hope that’s what happens. He has inspired his teammates. India have played a fantastic brand of cricket and let’s hope that continues.” he added.
Speaking about recently concluded Ashes, Warne said that England paid the price for making basic mistakes. As he said the visitors were a much better side than the scoreline (4-0) suggests.
“England are a better side than they showed in Australia. They are a better side than that. But having said that, I thought Australia played wonderful cricket. England just made basic errors, they got their selections wrong, dropped too many catches, there were wickets off no-ball. All the basic stuff they just got wrong. And with Australia playing so well, and England not, the gap was so big,” Warne concluded.