'I would not want to have any kind of imposition'- Saba Karim on Virat Kohli's availability for Zimbabwe ODIs

Virat Kohli has witnessed an awkward slump in his batting form in the last couple of years having been unable to score a century since November 2019. He is currently on a break from the game and is not a part of the ongoing limited-overs series against the West Indies.

Meanwhile, former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim wonders whether Kohli would be making himself available for the Zimbabwe ODI series starting August 18 or would be looking to take an extended break and be in action for Asia Cup 2022. At the same time, Karim has also asked the selectors and the team management whether Virat Kohli is essential for India’s T20 World Cup side or not.

I look at it in a different way altogether: Saba Karim

“I look at it in a different way altogether. First, the selectors and team management have to decide whether Virat Kohli is essential for India’s T20 World Cup side or not. Once they feel that Virat is essential for the team’s success, then I chart a path for Virat Kohli’s comeback to great form,” said Saba Karim while speaking to Sports 18.

“That’s the time when the selectors or the captain or Rahul Dravid would love to have a chat with him and try and take it forward. I would not want to have any kind of imposition on Virat that – ‘Hey listen you have to come back and play the Zimbabwe series, otherwise we will not pick you for the World Cup T20’ ,” he added.

“Once you decide that he is such an essential player for the team’s success, then I reach out to him, that it is up to him to decide whether he wants to come back and play the Zimbabwe ODIs or he wants to take an extended break and come back for the Asia Cup T20,” he further added.

Virat Kohli has so far amassed 253 runs against Zimbabwe averaging 50.60 in the six innings that he has played. If Kohli makes himself available for that tour, then it would be a great opportunity for him to roar back to form.

The batting icon is no longer in the top 10 rankings in either Tests or T20Is and currently occupies the fifth position in the ICC ODI rankings for batters. He has a good chance of improving and making some advancements in the lists.