Virat Kohli will play all series in T20 WC build-up, expect things to change soon: Pragyan Ojha

Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha has said that Virat Kohli will be playing all the series in the build-up to the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. To note, Kohli has been rested for the ongoing white-ball series against West Indies. At present, the Men in Blue are taking on the Men in Maroon in an ODI series, which will be followed by five T20I fixtures.

Several cricket experts and pundits have criticised Kohli for not being able to score runs on a consistent basis. According to some of them the India tour of the West Indies would have been an ideal platform for the right-handed batter to get back to form before the important tournaments such as the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.

“By comeback, I am talking about getting runs. Once a batter of his caliber gets a few runs going, then things change drastically. And I am sure as I am hearing that after the West Indies tour, he will be going for all the series thereon. I don’t think he will take any breaks, which is a great thing. He should be doing that. I don’t think there is an issue in his skill or anything else. He’s been batting brilliantly, but sometimes how you handle yourself mentally matters. Keep in mind the schedule,” Ojha told Jamie Alter on his Glance chat show, The Alternate View.

“Look at Ben Stokes… he just said ‘boss, we’re not vehicles that you just put petrol and we start running’. At times this effects everybody. But I am saying that Virat must play every chance he gets because if you don’t play how will you get the confidence?” Ojha also went on to say that maybe Kohli is mentally caught up somewhere, hence he has been taking breaks regularly,” he added.

Ojha further said that the issue with Kohli is not related to skill or technique, but perhaps with the mental aspect as he seems to be “little caught up somewhere”.

“When you look at Virat’s batting, it is not about the skill or that he’s not timing it well or his fitness has taken a beating. He’s just there, and I think better than others with his work ethic and discipline. The only thing is that maybe mentally he’s a little caught up somewhere. Maybe that’s why he’s been regularly taking breaks,” Ojha  said.