Virat Kohli Should've Retired From T20Is To Concentrate On His Batting: Former Indian Selector

Former BCCI selector Sarandeep Singh feels Virat Kohli should have quit playing T20 cricket altogether if he wants to focus more on his batting. The current Indian captain, on Thursday, announced that he will be stepping down as India‘s T20I skipper after the T20 World Cup in October-November in the UAE.

Virat Kohli cited workload management and putting more focus on his batting as the key reasons for this decision. Sarandeep Singh, a former India spinner, opined that the 32-year-old skipper should have retired from the shortest format to completely devote himself to his batting, which has taken a dip since last year.

“He should have quit the T20 format altogether as a player. I don’t think this move will in anyways help him concentrate on his batting – T20 cricket is more about hitting or slogging than skills, really. If concentrating on his batting is the reason behind it, then he should quit as the ODI captain too,” Sarandeep Singh told TOI.

He also questioned if Virat Kohli will relinquish his captaincy duties from the Royal Challengers Bangalore as well. He hasn’t managed a single title for RCB in 8 seasons.

“I wonder if he will quit as the RCB captain too. He’s the biggest brand that RCB have. The team sells due to him,” he added.

Virat Kohli could have quit the captaincy when the team was being picked for World Cup: Sarandeep Singh

The 41-year-old is further puzzled by the timing of Kohli’s announcement. He opined that Virat Kohli could have quit the captaincy when the squad for the T20 World Cup was being picked.

“I think an inkling about it, but I didn’t know he would quit the T20 captaincy before the T20 World Cup. He could have quit the captaincy when the team was being picked for the T20 World Cup.

“Will he even play the next T20 World Cup in 2022? Perhaps the selectors should speak with him about reconsidering his decision,” he concluded.

Rohit Sharma, the current vice-captain, is likely to be named the next captain after Virat Kohli. The T20 World Cup starts on October 17 in Oman and the UAE. India take on Pakistan on October 24.

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