Virat Kohli was the highest run-getter in the ICC men's T20 World Cup with 296 runs to his name but former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that he should be kept out of the international T20 format because of the impending ODI World Cup in October-November in India.
Kohli scored his first T20I century in the Asia Cup and has been in prime form heading into 2023, but given the burden and rigours that the sport of cricket carries, he should concentrate on ODI cricket and give his everything ahead of the marquee tournament. He goes as far as to say that this issue is not only with Kohli but with most of the players in the team.
"Not only with Virat Kohli, but this is also happening with many players. Because cricket is being played a lot. You see that if India is playing Test cricket in some country, then somewhere else Team India has to play a T20I series. This happened during my tenure (as head coach) as well. You have to prepare your players according to what and which format is most important in that particular year," he said in an exclusive interview with Sports Tak.
"As the ODI World Cup is coming, you have to prepare the players to focus on it. Every year there is a World Cup, so you have to do your work accordingly and 15 to 18 players To be prepared on priority basis," the legendary Indian cricketer added.
Kohli has been playing regularly for India since the T20 World Cup and has been answering all his critics with major aplomb. He ended his century drought in ODIs with a century against Bangladesh and two more in the series against Sri Lanka. More recently, he smashed another century in the fourth Test against Australia in Ahmedabad, ensuring that his side secure a 2-1 series lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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