IND vs AFG: 'You Don't Find Virat Kohli & Boys Putting Out Tests For BBL' - Brian McMillan

South Africa National Cricket Team great Brian McMillan has expressed his delight over the modern-day batting great Virat Kohli and Team India giving respect to Test cricket amid the growing popularity of the T20 leagues across the globe.

Virat Kohli has openly admitted that he is a ‘traditionalist’ and that Test cricket is everything to him. Kohli has often earned praise from the absolute legends of the game for giving priority to Test cricket and playing a key role in keeping the purest format of cricket alive.

Kohli is among the very few active international cricketers to play over 100 Test matches and he is also the fourth-highest run-getter for India in the red-ball format, only behind great Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar.

Virat Kohli has played 113 Test matches for India National Cricket Team and has scored 8848 runs at an amazing average of 49.15. He has slammed 29 centuries and 30 half-centuries in the format with the best score of an unbeaten 254*.

Meanwhile, players like Kohli are giving it all for Test cricket on one side, and on the other side, some players want to focus more on white-ball cricket for their nation and play across the globe in T20 cricket. Recently, the explosive Proteas wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen, who is just 32 years old, shocked the world with his Test retirement.

Also, Cricket South Africa (CSA) recently named a second-string squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand as they want their first-choice players to be available for the SA20 2024. This decision made by CSA brought them under heavy criticism from fans and experts.

Finding Virat Kohli and boys playing Test cricket is great – Brian McMillan

Brian McMillan recently shared his views on the country vs T20 debate, saying that T20 cricket is important for players to earn money but for that Test cricket shouldn’t be sacrificed.

“I hope modern players are making enough money otherwise it’s very difficult to do business. It is very hard on players. One of our guys (Heinrich Klaasen) retired now and will obviously play in the T20 league and I have got my views on how countries should run their players in essence. People make a name on essence,” McMillan told PTI.

Brian McMillan added that Team India and players like Kohli have been giving utmost respect to Test cricket, which is always great to see.

“I think it’s a world feel that you have to give priority to one’s country and I think India has been doing it quite well. You finding Kohli and boys playing Test cricket is great. You don’t find them putting out Tests to play BBL. Test cricket will be threatened, but I suppose, it will remain the ultimate game,” added McMillan.

The most recent appearance of Kohli in Test cricket came in the two-match series against South Africa away from him. He once again showcased sheer class and played brilliant knocks for India in the difficult conditions. He finished as the highest run-getter for India and overall second-highest run-getter in the series behind Dean Elgar. In 4 innings, Kohli scored 172 runs at an average of 43.