Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev. Image-PTI

Former India captain Kapil Dev opined speaks on Virat Kohli‘s century drought. Till the end of the IPL next month, the Indian captain will have gone 22 months without an international hundred – he had last hit an international century in November 2019, against Bangladesh.

While he has kept on producing some really classy innings and fifties, the three-figure mark has continued to elude him.

Kapil Dev reckons Kohli, who will turn 33 in a couple of months, is still at his peak, and once he returns to his belligerent form, the right-hander would be capable of making even a triple hundred – a feat which only two Indians – Virender Sehwag and Karun Nair – have achieved so far in Test cricket.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli walks back after being dismissed on 44 at The Oval. (Image: Twitter)

“The graph has surely gone up and down but for how long? Age 28 to 32 is the time when you really blossom. He is now experienced and mature. If he returns to his old form, Virat will not only score a century or double ton; he will give you 300. He is so much mature now and there is no shortage of fitness when it comes to Kohli. He just needs to identify himself and look to score big,” Kapil Dev said on the show Uncut.

His captaincy should not be the focus; instead, look at his ability: Kapil Dev

The 1983 World Cup-winning skipper downplayed the thoughts of Kohli being bogged down due to the captaincy pressure. Kapil Dev pointed out that even before his form dipped, Kohli was able to score big runs while handling the leadership of the side.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)

“For all these years, when he was scoring runs, no one said anything about captaincy affecting Virat’s batting and now suddenly, there are opinions when there’s been a little up and down in his graph. When he scored those double centuries and so many hundreds, wasn’t there pressure then? It means that his captaincy should not be the focus. Instead, look at his ability,” the legendary all-rounder added.

Since the start of last year, Kohli averages 26.80 in Test cricket. However, his white-ball form, during this period has remained supreme – averaging 46.66 in ODIs, and 52.60 in T20Is. India would need their gusting skipper in full flow during the T20 World Cup which will follow the IPL.

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