India Test skipper Virat Kohli’s only blip in his stellar career so far was his struggle on the 2014 Test series in England. In that series, he managed just 134 runs in five Tests at an average of 13.40, dismissed four times by England’s spearhead James Anderson. (SCORECARD)
Kohli, who has scored 640 runs at an average of 128 in the series against England with the a Test left, wants to play a season in the English county circuit to challenge himself in seaming conditions.
The Indian Test skipper has enjoyed a sensational run since the 2014-15 tour of Australia, notching up three double centuries in successive series. In the Mumbai Test, he scored 235, the highest score by an Indian captain in Tests .
Having led India to 12 victories in 21 Tests (2 losses), both India and Kohli can get the stamp of a great side only when they do well in England, Australia and South Africa. Although Kohli has earned praise from experts and fans, the batsman said on the eve of the final Test that he wants to get the better of English conditions.
{{/usCountry}}Having led India to 12 victories in 21 Tests (2 losses), both India and Kohli can get the stamp of a great side only when they do well in England, Australia and South Africa. Although Kohli has earned praise from experts and fans, the batsman said on the eve of the final Test that he wants to get the better of English conditions.
{{/usCountry}}“If I have a chance I would love to do that, love to be there say a month or a month-and-half and get used to playing in those conditions, understand how the wickets behave in that particular phase of the year,” Kohli said when asked whether he would like to play in the English county circuit.
“I have actually been thinking about it, trying to work out how I can make it happen. Most definitely, if I have the time I’ll go and play there.”
While Virat has done well in South Africa and Australia, it was against England in 2014 where his technical flaws were exposed.
India won in England in 2007 but were routed 0-4 in 2011 and then lost 1-3 three years later, after drawing the first Test and winning the next at Lord’s.
The last Indian player to use games in the English county to polish his game in the current side is Cheteshwar Pujara, who played for Derbyshire in 2014 and turned out for Yorkshire in 2015.