Virat Kohli Will Come Out Flying Against England - Graeme Swann Backs Indian Captain To 'Score Runs Anywhere At Any Time'

Hyping up the upcoming Test series between India and England, former spinner Graeme Swann reminded the fans of Virat Kohli’s contrasting tours to the country, and his battles with James Anderson.

Graeme Swann pointed out that Kohli changed his fortunes from 2014, when averaged just 13.40, to 2018, when he averaged 59.30. On his first tour to England, Kohli was troubled by James Anderson – 4 dismissals for just 19; however, on his second tour the Indian skipper didn’t get out to Anderson even once – albeit thanks to a few dropped catches – and scored 114 runs against England’s greatest ever bowler.

“The thing with Virat Kohli is, the last time he came here absolutely dominated the series. And again, to put the negative stand there and say ‘Oh Jimmy Anderson got his out for fun’… Jimmy Anderson ‘used to’ get him out for fun in England and it was embarrassing.

“Virat Kohli went away, worked on his game to an extent that he didn’t get out at all to Jimmy and he dominated in England. I am sure he’s watching the videos, remembering his techniques against that English attack and I would back Virat Kohli to score runs anywhere in the world at any time,” Graeme Swann told Sportskeeda.

He’ll be one of the Big Four again: Graeme Swann

The 32-year-old is going through a slump – of course, by his standards – as he hasn’t notched up a century since November 2019.

Graeme Swann underlined that Kohli is always under the pressure of expectations of not just runs, but centuries. He backed the Delhi-born to once again assert his status in the ‘Fab 4’ by piling up huge runs against England.

“The caveat that comes with being one of the ‘Big Four’, you are expected to score a big hundred either every Test match or every other Test match. That’s by your fans, your teammates [but] it’s hard work to do that. When you think that Virat hasn’t played for six months almost and he’s been in Covid bubbles, to come out with the same expectations in a one-off Test against New Zealand.

“I think he still scored 70 runs in the game. He’s going to have five matches against England and a truly world-class player like Virat will be fine and he’ll come out flying in that series. He might not do that in the first Test, but by the end of the series, he’ll be one of the Big Four again,” the former off-spinner further stated.

The first Test is scheduled for August 4th at Trent Bridge.

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