Virender Sehwag Questions Virat Kohli's Constant Chopping And Changing Of Players In The Playing XI
Published - 04 Dec 2020, 11:53 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:26 PM
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has lambasted skipper Virat Kohli for constantly chopping and changing the players in the playing 11, alleging that why the same selection yardsticks are not applied to the charismatic Indian batsman.
Sehwag made his observation during a discussion on the constant chopping and changing of players in the Indian set-up on Sony Sports Network.
The former Indian opener started by asking Virat Kohli as to whether he would become a legendary batsman like he is done if MS Dhoni had dropped him following a poor tour to England in 2014. Virat has always heaped praise on MS Dhoni for persisting with him in his initial days. Pointing to the same, Sehwag asked whether any player playing under Virat will say the same thing about him in the future.
”Virat Kohli has to think that in the England tour when he had flopped, if he was not given opportunities after that, how would he have become such a big player.” Virender Sehwag said.
He himself says that MS Dhoni has backed him and that he would always remain his captain. Is there any player in this team who will say the same thing for Virat Kohli, it is difficult.”he added.
Virender Sehwag on Virat Kohli benching Shreyas Iyer in the 1st T20I
Sehwag said that if the decision was taken keeping the teams’ cause in mind, then he has no issue with it, but if the decision was made purely because of Iyer’s struggles against short-pitch bowling in the ODI series, he questions whether the Mumbai cricketer will have the guts to ask Virat about the reason behind his axing.
If you talk about Shreyas Iyer, if in the previous T20 series he had given a good performance, then on what basis did you not play him this encounter. Is there any reason? I don’t think even Shreyas Iyer has the guts to go and ask why he was not played.”
“If this decision has been taken with the team in mind then it is right else if it has been taken thinking that Shreyas Iyer does not play short-pitched bowling that well and so a chance has been given to someone else, then it will be a different thinking because he has scored runs in the last few T20I matches. So, he should be given chances.” Virender Sehwag asked.
“I will say one more thing, all the rules are applicable to everyone else other than Virat Kohli, no rule is applicable to him. Neither his batting order is changed nor is he left out or given a break when he is out of form. So, that is wrong,” he signed off.
