‘India Needs Virat Kohli To Fire, If He Doesn’t Score, TV Ratings Go Down And People Get Disillusioned’ - Graeme Swann

Virat Kohli scoring runs is proportional to TV ratings said former England spinner, Graeme Swann. Kohli endured a three-year-long phase where he slowly lost his batting form and didn’t score a century in international or IPL cricket from November 2019 onwards.

Though he made scores in the 70s and 80s during this phase, starting in 2021, he struggled to half-centuries even, and in the IPL 2022 scored three golden ducks for the first time. This lack of form and his failure to win any ICC trophy, led to him stepping down as India captain in Tests and T20Is and was replaced in ODIs, with Rohit Sharma taking over in all three formats.

Under Kohli’s leadership, India is touted as the new chokers in international cricket looking at their recent history. India succumbed under pressure in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, then the same happened to them in the 2019 ODI World Cup final. They also lost the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final.

However, under new coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, India have played a new brand of cricket this year under the leadership of Rohit Sharma and the guidance of head coach Rahul Dravid. After playing the T20 format with a conservative approach till last year, India has been embracing the ultra-attacking approach in 2022 which has worked for them on several occasions.

I Want Virat Kohli To Do Well: Graeme Swann

Veteran England spinner Graeme Swann in an exclusive conversation with News18 CricketNext, talked about how the form of India’s Virat Kohli impacts the TV ratings as he wants the batting maverick, who recently returned to form, to do well with the bat in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“India need Virat Kohli to fire. I’ve worked for the TV side and I know there is a desperate need for Virat Kohli to do well as it was with MS Dhoni. If those guys don’t do well TV ratings go down and people get disillusioned.

“I want Virat Kohli to do well, when I used to play against India, I never minded Virat Kohli’s batting. I liked watching him bat up close, trust me if you think you think he looks good while batting from the stands and on TV, you should stand at a backward point or cover, it’s gorgeous to watch him bat,” Swann added.

He further said that Virat Kohli’s maiden T20I century against Afghanistan was not lauded and praised as it should have been.

“I hope Virat just come good and it was incredible that he didn’t score a hundred for 2-3 years in international cricket because that player is amazing.

“People will say he scored his 71st ton against Afghanistan, that’s really bad on Afghanistan because they are a good team. They got one of the best bowling attacks, they beat Sri Lanka who went on to win the Asia Cup trophy,” he added.

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