Allan Border hails Virat Kohli for keeping Test cricket alive

The Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli is an absolute superstar of the game. His growing popularity knows no bounds. The kind of form Kohli has shown over the last two years across the three formats of the game has only fetched him more and more fans. Among the lot joining the list of fans and well-wishers is former Australian great Allan Border. After Ian Chappell compared Kohli to Sir Don Bradman, Border has showered praises on the Indian captain.

The former cricketer recently spoke at length on how the Indian Premier League (IPL) has shaped the world cricket in a whole new way. And, he also elucidated how he thinks the Indian captain has kept Test cricket alive with his spirit. Talking about the IPL, Border mentioned that he feels it is the second biggest revolution after Kerry Packer’s World Series. He feels that IPL has fetched more visibility for the sport.

“I call IPL the second revolution in cricket after Kerry Packer. It has taken off so much and twenty20 has become a huge sport. It perhaps takes a little bit from the game but it’s more viewer-friendly, attracting a lot more women viewers and many have started watching the sport — who otherwise don’t like cricket due to its earlier long-form version. But I do worry for the game,” Border was quoted as saying on Fox Sports.

Test cricket is a hard sell

While the IPL is flourishing, on the flip side of things, the love for the Test cricket seems to be on a dwindling low. Commenting on the same, Border noted that it has become tougher to popularise Test cricket now. However, he credited Virat for keeping the spirit of Test cricket alive. He feels Test cricket is in safe hands as long as Kohli plays the sport. He, however, is worried about the generations to come next.

“Certainly for Test matches. It’s a hard sell now. But I think Virat Kohli is great for Test cricket. He is modern India and still loves the game. He is good at Twenty20 cricket and also understands the history of the game. He wants his place in history and he wants to match himself against Tendulkar and Gavaskar and Lara. While he is there, Test cricket is in safe hands. But I worry about the next generation,” the former Australian skipper praised Virat Kohli.

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