Can’t write off modern-day great Virat Kohli, sure he would like to get big runs: Ajit Agarkar

Former India fast bowler Ait Agarkar said it’s unfair to write off Virat Kohli after just three low scores in the ongoing tour of England, saying the India captain is a modern-day great. Agarkar highlighted that Kohl had scored runs against a similar English attack in 2018 and the star batsman will be keen on getting big runs sooner than later.

Virat Kohli got out for first-ball nought in the series opener in Nottingham. At Lord’s, Kohl made a laboured 42 in the first innings before getting out for 20 in the 2nd innings after which India rode on contributions from Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and tail-ender Mohammed Sami to script a remarkable 151-run victory.

Kohli, who has hit as many as 70 international hundreds, has been struggling to get his next one. The India skipper has not scored a hundred in international cricket since November 2019. In 10 Tests since the start of 2020, Kohli has managed just 407 runs and averages less than 24.

However, Agarkar, speaking to the media in an interaction organized by Sony Sports, backed Kohli to overcome his lean patch, highlighting it’s difficult for most batsmen to tackle the movement in English conditions.

“Let’s wait and see, but in three innings you do not want to write someone off who has been a modern-day great,” Agarkar said.

“Virat Kohli got runs against England in the 2018 series with all their bowlers available. He got a great ball from James Anderson in the first Test, fought hard for his 40 odd in the second Test. You bowl an outswinger to batsmen in the corridor, they will knick the ball. These are conditions where the ball does swing and seam around. Bowling on the fourth stump is very difficult to play for most batsmen,” he added.

Fans want him to get big runs: Agarkar

Agarkar pointed out that Kohli might be too eager to get going, considering he has not got a big score in close to two years in Test cricket.

“When a bowler is in good spell, that Sam Curran ball in the second innings of the Lord’s Test was good deception. I am sure Kohli will like to get runs and all fans would like him to get big runs. The guy has got enough runs in international cricket, and maybe when you do not get runs, you are eager to get into the series, that might have happened,” he added.

Kohl led India’s first training session at the Headingley in Leeds on Sunday. India will be keen on taking an unassailable 2-0 lead when they face England, who are battered by injury concerns, in the 3rd Test, starting August 25.